Only when the mind is subject to the soul can it pursue divine power. But in reality the mind is subject to the senses. The senses are subject to subjects and motives. So there is misery in life. Stabilizing the mind in the soul is essential for emancipation. Man has a karmic mind and two main factors that make the mind active are 1) external causes and 2) inner nature, which is determined by the karmas of pre-births. In order to stabilize the mind, the destruction of sin, the life without doubt, the thought of the welfare of creatures and the state in divine power are indispensable. Through the concentration of the mind one can be freed from all the pains of life and that is nothing but the salvation which is possible while living. But there are nine main obstacles to the concentration of the mind, that is, obstacles that must be overcome. These nine obstacles are as follows.
1) Disease and illness. Being healthy is essential for the concentration of the mind.

2) To dream according to power. Not setting too high goals. As well as accepting defeat instinctively.
3) Doubt – that is to do this or that, one should free the mind from such options. One should learn to leave all decisions to God.
4) Negligence or delay. Do not delay in any work.
5) AVIRATI – VIRATI means restraint. AVIRATI means incontinence. The biggest obstacle to the concentration of the mind is incontinence in the fulfillment of the unlimited desires.
6) Illusion or false knowledge. Gathering any information other than knowing the soul is a waste of time the only true knowledge is real information of soul and supreme soul.
7) Laziness – because laziness is the most dangerous obstacle in achieving any goal of life. Make life slogan “KAL KARE SO AAJ KAR”
8) ALABDHI – that is non-achievement or repeated failure. Persistent, relentless pursuit of failure without giving up is required for success or concentration of mind.
9) ANAVSTHITI – that is not experiencing stability. Practice is required to become static or stable. Everyone should try to become “STHITPRAGN”
MAHARSHI PATANJALI has suggested the main ways for concentration of the mind as follows.

1) Complete concentration in God means to achieve divine power which is made possible by asceticism, restraint and practice. Ignorance, ego and attachment are mainly responsible for the cycle of birth and death that produces karma fruit, which is responsible for the cycle of birth and death. So that vices must be overcome for salvation which is made possible by asceticism, restraint and practice.
2) It is necessary to achieve the three main qualities for concentration of the mind a) to overcome happiness and sorrow b) to give up desires c) to be detached from ignorance, infatuation and ego
3) However, if the mind becomes unstable due to any reason, chant OMKAR Mantra continuously as there is no SATSUNG like OMKAR Mantra. Good thoughts are obtained from SATSUNG. Noble deed is made possible by good thoughts, sacraments are obtained from noble deeds and attainment of God becomes easy when everything is noble.

4) To avoid the main nine obstacles (shown above) that disturbed the mind.
5) Continue to practice for restraint and concentration without interruption, without time limit, with patience.
6) Practicing the four virtues, so as not to be disturbed by contact with others in the world.
1) Friendship with happiness 2) Mercy on afflicted 3) friendship with virtue 4) Neglect of sin
7) Practicing PRANAYAMA. In the practice of RECHAK (exhaling) and KUNBHAK (holding breath) reduce the laxative and increase the KUNBHAK. PRANAYAMA increases the kinetic energy of the PRANA.
8) Always create an atmosphere of bliss without raga and stay in it with complete asceticism.
9) Stay close to beautiful objects that are dear to the mind and stay away from unpleasant things.

One more thing I find necessary here is that the mind is a part of the conscience whose concentration is not possible without its purification just as dirty and muddy water cannot be stable, so impure mind cannot be concentrated. Consciousness consists of four main elements
1) Mind
2) Intelligence
3) chit and
4) Ego.

The four main states of the mind are 1) Contemplation 2) ruminate 3) PREKSHA (observation or waiting) 4) Meditation. Thus meditation is concentration but the state before meditation is PREKSHA without which meditation is not possible. In the same way PREKSHA is not possible without ruminate and ruminate is not possible without contemplation. Thus to reach at the level meditation the entire process that is to pass from above three stages is required which is not possible without purifying the mind. So let’s understand how the mind can be purified. The mind is an important part of the conscience and the conscience includes the mind-intellect-chit and the ego. Of which the function of the mind is to make resolve and choice, the function of the intellect is to make a decision, the function of the chit is remembrance and storage of memory. That is, the memory of many birth rites is stored in the chit, just like many GB of data is stored in the hard disk, the memory of birth is stored in our chit and from time to time it becomes a destiny. In order to purify the chit, one has to delete the useless things stored in the memory. Purification of chit becomes possible through proper treatment and it is only through Chit purification one’s inner strength flourishes and develops. If many of the toxic impurities of life are removed, the chit and mind must be purified. Such toxic element (vices) associated with human life are lust, anger, greed, raga, selfishness, jealousy, ego, affection, hatred, etc. In the same way Chit purification is also possible through good deeds, knowledge acquisition, devotion, Mantra chanting, etc. Just as the purification of wealth is done through charity, the purification of the body is done through penance, and the purification of the mind and chit is done through positivity and devotion to God. Just as light is needed to remove darkness, so grace from God is necessary to remove impurity. As there are four main functions of the mind contemplation, ruminate, observation and meditation so that the process of purification should start with contemplation i.e. through good thoughts. It can then be stabilized by continuous ruminate i.e. continuous practice. The state of PREKSHA can then be achieved through silence and finally the attainment of meditation or concentration can be achieved by becoming introvert.

Shilpa shah, director in-charge, HKBBA College