Page 39 - NAMAH-Oct-2021

Namah The four pillars of well-being — an integral approach

and alignment. It is also a fact that we yearn
for it and are constantly seeking it in different
ways. This state of well-being is possible but
requires effort. The Gıita mentions this as a
a
tapas (austerity):

मन: प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: |
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||17.16||

“Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-
control, and purity of purpose — all these are well-being positively. Negative thoughts that
declared as the austerity of the mind.”
perpetuate greed, envy, hatred, resentment
will impact our action choices that are likely
SSrıi Krrssnna in Bhagvadgıita verses 6.5, states to be destructive and energy sapping. If the
a
how important it is to befriend the mind and mind concentrates on positive thoughts such
mindfully operate from the higher mind in us. as gratitude, compassion, generosity, love,
we are easily allowing ourselves to expand
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् | and experience the abundance in ourselves
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: and others.
||6.5||
The Mother’s symbol of the twelve attributes
“Elevate yourself through the power of your — sincerity, humility, gratitude, perseverance,
mind, and not degrade yourself, for the mind aspiration, receptivity, progress, courage,
can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.”
goodness, generosity, equality and peace —
provide the direction for befriending and
The mind can be considered as a garden, guiding the mind to work towards ensuring
which can either be intelligently nurtured or our well-being and also of all the collectives
allowed to run amok. The intent is the first we are part of.
step towards cultivating elevating thoughts
which determine our state of experiencing
The current reality shows that the world has
more numbers lamenting about their struggles
to find peace, happiness and balance and only
a handful experiencing the wellspring of well-
being. That is because befriending the mind
and allowing the intellect to consistently
guide us requires vigilance, a strong will and
consistent effort, along with heaps of faith. It
requires regular contemplation, processing
and a letting-go of our dysfunctional, default
modus operandi patterns.

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