Pearls of Wisdom for Self Improvement – by Swami Chinmayananda

/ Part One /

CONTROL YOUR MIND

In introspection the mind itself is the subject of study. Mind alone is Māyā at play.

A mind at poise is the sure instrument for material success, the smooth and straight runway for the spiritual take-off

Perceive through the senses, but do not allow the mind to get fascinated by mere perception.

Worry is a wasteful extravagant habit of the mind. It costs much and still it produces no results.

Detachment is that smartness of the mind which enables us to get detached from the false, painful things.

Even though you have not conquered the battles of the world, you become the world-conqueror when you conquer your mind.

A quiet mind produces a more brilliant intellect.

Any attempt of mind to rise from the low values of its present existence to a healthier and diviner scheme of living is Yoga.

To forget oneself totally, one’s mind should keep awake at every moment.

The mind can stay only on an object where it has discovered for itself a source of happiness and Love

Steady mind moulded through devoted Sādhana is a power of peace.

The suffering of each depends, not upon the factual happenings, but upon the texture of each one’s mind.

What we regularly encourage and constantly cultivate in our mind determines our character formation and ultimately our destiny.

Take what life has to give you as the Lord’s gift Prasada. Sorrows polish off the Vāsanas and tears are the “Brasso” of the mind.

What we regularly encourage and constantly cultivate in our mind determines our character formation and ultimately our destiny.

Mastery over the mind ends in a great and intense integration of one’s personality.

At the place of worship, see His form with your eyes, see Him Himself with the mind turned within.

Attempt to get a glimpse of the infinitely joyful Self by calming the mind and not by fulfilling desires.

When you have Him in your mind, whatever you do in the world is known as padasevanam. This is also practice of devotion.

In spare time train your mind in the art of watching mind gurgling all kinds of emotions & thunderously flushing down the avenues of time.

When all the sense organs are persuaded away from their individual fields of activities, the mind comes to rest peacefully.

To ‘listen’ is not merely to ‘hear’. We in life ‘hear’, but very rarely do we know how to ‘listen’.
‘Listen more & learn more’, must be the constant slogan of a mind that is on the great march to world of expanding ideas, thoughts & actions

Happiness and peace are his, who has trained his mind to react positively to the world outside.

Freedom from the mind is true freedom; one does not need to live in seclusion to achieve this.

A mind held at concentration brings into view the deeper thoughts which were till then hidden from it, due to its own fluctuations.

Let us try, achieve, and be inspired by our mind’s ability to remain undaunted in an exalted attitude of divine purity and peace.

Appreciating the mind as `ALL SILENCE’. `I AM’ in meditation.
Let us try, achieve, and be inspired by our mind’s ability to remain undaunted in an exalted attitude of divine purity and peace.

CONCENTRATE WITH INTELLECT

The real Guru is the pure intellect within; and the purified, deeply aspiring mind is the disciple.

The guru is nothing but pure consciousness, Bliss and eternal wisdom.

A weakling cannot ever reach spiritual brilliance and total freedom. Courage comes from faith in the Guru and in the path.

The very nature of a Guru is both inclusive and unconditional, and that expansive quality draws people from all walks of life.

The Guru’s form and the worship of His form is to reminder to us of our Formless nature.

Contemplation is not an intellectual comprehension or an emotional appreciation. It rests on the two, like the two wings of a bird.

Regularity is the beginning. Sincerity is the next step. Learning the art of mentally and intellectually living the philosophy is the goal.

Make your intellect a storehouse of right values.

Scriptures are not mere books for intellectual studies. We must learn to assimilate these ideas and come to live them.

Silently hear everyone. Accept what is good. Reject and forget what is not. This is intelligent living.

The purpose of religious practices is to help man tune his inner equipments with this intelligent dynamic Conscious Principle.

Truthfulness is the spirit to live honestly our intellectual convictions within.

DETACH YOURSELF

Ego and Ego-centric desires together constitute “attachment”

Often detach yourself from the role you play, and look at the world with no reference to your body-mind-intellect.

Detachment from things and emotions, thoughts and happenings can come only as a result of constant practice.

There is no harm in enjoying. Just don’t get attached to your enjoyment.

To the accomplished, there is nothing to detach from. For, when the falsity is realized, can there be ownership?

Attachment is a mental knot with which you have tied yourself to things and beings all around. It is self-made slavery.

Detached from the false, attach yourself to the Truth!

Detachment is an intelligent attitude to life and the environment

Detachment should not be understood as running away from the things or situations in life

Working with attachment leads to perspiration, not inspiration. Work should not exhaust oneself; it should only exhaust one’s Vasanas.

The secret of inspiration, and a work done under inspiration is certainly a thousand times more irresistible in its effectiveness.

A man-of-wisdom lives in the world, but he is never of the world.

“Masters cannot be comprehended by the intellect. They are deeper than that”

MEDITATE

Meditation becomes a true education, a secret preparation of ourselves to face the world of changing circumstances.

Aloneness is not in the surroundings, but it is in one’s attitude of remaining with all attention fixed upon that one Goal. Aloneness is different from loneliness.

In meditation, minimise thoughts and reach to one; stay there until it disappears in No Time!

Expand inwardly. Grow to your full stature. You can achieve growth and expansion only in and through meditation.

The greater the amount of concentration that a seeker can apply in his everyday life, the greater will be his success in meditation.

Regular meditation let us move towards the realm of such a true rediscovery.

Act! Strive! Meditate! Achieve!!

ENTHUSIASM AND JOY IN EVERYTHING YOU DO

Humour lightens the heart, invigorates the spirit, opens the mind, and invites others to be near you! Laugh!

We choose our Joys and Sorrows…  Long before we experience them.

Learn to be happy alone. If we do not enjoy our own company, why inflict it on others!

Don’t be jaded, observe and enjoy God’s creation.

Positive thinking is much easier because it brings in its wake harmony, peace, joy and inner realisation.

Dreams can give only a vague sense of joy, but cannot offer any actual dividend of happiness to the dreamer.

Work enthusiastically without worry of result.

Courage of conviction and tireless enthusiasm to continue, we must have in plenty. Success is sure for the sincere seeker.

The workers and the missionaries must discover in themselves the secret of invoking this trajectory force of true and flawless enthusiasm.

Small efforts continuously & cheerfully put forth, pyramid up to become the edifice that stands out as great work & noble achievements.

/ Part Two coming up /