All About Our Minds and Virtues

According to ancient spiritual tradition, the mind is constantly under the sway of the three virtues, the primary constituents of nature. The lowest: darkness, is the force of inertia, dullness and stupidity. When the mind is alert, active and ambitions, it is under the sway of reign. The 'essence', the third force, brings calmness, understanding, and happiness. Through spiritual education, it is possible to increase and develop qualities of 'essence'.

The first quality of the 'essence' is mental calmness in every activity. There were great men who were tremendously active throughout their lives and yet remained calm behind all their struggles and actions. Such calmness can be found in many ways-through contemplation and meditation.

Another quality of the 'essence' is control of one's senses. Our senses are like wild horses. As they receive and reject impressions, they act wildly and thus upset our mental balance. If we are upset, how can we receive the light of God? Therefore, those who seek Self-knowledge and, freedom must practice self-control. They must try to calm the senses through willpower. It is a great mistake to think that in order to enjoy happiness, our senses have to be wild. No. If a hungry man goes to a restaurant and wildly grabs his food like an animal, he does not really enjoy his food. But if he eats with calmness, he thoroughly appreciates the food he eats.

Fearlessness is another quality that our minds must develop. We are always in fear of something. But since we are actually sparks of the Divine, we are entitled to Divine attributes. Fearlessness is one such attribute. The more we experience God, the more fearless we become and the more we feel that we belong to God who is infinite power and freedom.

Another quality of the 'essence' which is very important to our spiritual life is patience. Our general tendency is to do everything in a hurry. In every area of our lives we become restless. If we do something, we want result fast; if we want to reach somewhere, we want to reach there fast. The great teachers tell us to patiently continue our contemplation, prayers and disciplines and not to expect immediate results.

Friendship and forbearance are the other great qualities that we must train ourselves. True friendships are based on moral or practical planes. You may be someone's friend, but if he stands against your interests, the friendship is lost. But spiritual friendship is different because it is based on a great spiritual truth - God, who is the golden thread of unity. Similarly, great spiritual leaders taught that if someone has done wrong, we must forgive him or her. Think of the story of the adulteress whom the Pharisees were about to stone to death when Jesus Christ said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Every one was ashamed as Christ gently and compassionately told the woman to forget the past and begin a pure life.