Faith: The apple of my eye leads my soul

“For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for him who has failed to do so, the mind remains the greatest enemy,” (Bhagavad Gita 6.6).

By its nature, the mind is turbulent and restless and, therefore, difficult to control. It has a natural proclivity to enter into the sense objects and the sense object have a natural tendency to enter into the mind.

For example, upon seeing an apple, the image embeds itself in the mind. When eating it, the experience has the added element of taste. Having peeled it, first a tactile impression imprints itself on the memory. Finally, a smell and any social dimensions, such as the socalled friend in the orchard whispering, “Pluck it from the tree” or the pretty girl insisting, “Get it for me” complete the experience.

Combined, these various dimensions leave an enhanced and memorable moment. When separated from the apple, it pops back into the mind, stirring up feelings and a desire. The mind seeks a repeat of the experience: “Take another apple. Take another apple.”

Through this reciprocal action, the sense object binds the mind and, ultimately, binds that self-acting as a willing accomplice. The more the mind contemplates and meditates upon that sense object, the more it entangles itself and the living entity. In order to disentangle the mind, the self requires the help of higher intelligence and discrimination. With proper spiritual guidance, the self can reject both the sense object and the material mind that leads the pursuit of worldly happiness.

The mind by its nature wants to maximize pleasure and minimize distress. It feels a relative degree of distress when it can’t get the food it craves and also a relative degree of pleasure when it gets the object of desire. While the self has the freedom to choose what to eat and whether or not to pursue it, it ultimately remains bound to this material world. The self remains bound to this world as long as it has desires to fulfil. So much unfinished business.

“How can I leave now?” I imprison myself by pursuing the vast array of sense objects set forth by my mind. Insatiable lust overwhelms me. I reach beyond the apple to the peaches and cherries.

All that ripe fruit renders me spellbound by the opportunity to manipulate and exploit the flavours of the earth for my own personal satisfaction. Although this world imprisons me, I am a prisoner of my own device. I am here to lord it over nature and compete with God for dominion of this world. Do you think I will succeed? At least at some level I do, so I cling to this all-powerful illusion. Herein my mind is my greatest enemy.

To overcome the illusion and defeat the animalistic tendency of that mind, the self must use intelligence and determination to supplant the material nature with the original spiritual nature. It has always been there, but remains covered by the bounds of consciousness tying the self to this world.

Studying scriptures and associating with self-realized souls untangles the knots in the heart. Transcendental knowledge and steading of that mind through regulated devotional practices re-connect the self with the supreme.

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away and whatever austerities you perform should be done as an offering unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead,” (Bhagavad Gita 9.27).

By always remembering that Supreme Person and never forgetting Him, that mind becomes absorbed in Him. Through steadfast practise, it is possible for that material mind to become spiritualized. Just as the self has forgotten its eternal relationship with God, it needs to forget its temporary affiliation with this world.

So, when I peel an apple, rather than attempting to satisfy my own desires, I should ask, “Is this a suitable offering for that Supreme Person? Will he like it? Will this offering please Him? How much will Krishna enjoy it?”

Then, when I finish peeling the apple, I should offer it to Him. I should only eat the food once He accepts it. I should only eat the remnants. I should accept a position of servitude rather than the position of enjoyer. Through the practise of service, I can re-program that mind and those senses to exchange material bonds for spiritual bonds. By continued practice and service, I may even develop a spark of love for God that will turn me away from the lower material forms of happiness and accept the higher absolute forms of bliss and eternity.

Only a bond of higher more satisfying love can turn me away from this world. When sincere feelings of love of God arise within my mind, that sense of enmity ends. My mind will be my best friend.

Harold Meier lived in Taiwan for more than two decades, working as an aircraft maintenance technical instructor and quality manager with Lufthansa Technical Training. He also studied eastern religions, primarily Vedantism, and became a member of the Hare Krishna community. Meier also has a master’s degree in educational practices.