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Notes on Counselling

Silencing the Being

Dr. Soumitra Basu

Abstract
Japa is useful to pacify the cacophony of the physical mind. Another means of silencing the mind
is to bring the silence and peace into the mind at first and thence to the whole being with an
additional attempt to cleanse the Inconscience. It establishes equanimity and prepares one for
transformational changes.

mechanical mind which is obsessed with
repetitive thoughts that go on mechanically
repeating themselves. This mind is a problem
to all serious thinkers. Spiritual seekers
brought in the concept of japa or mantra
repetition to tackle the mechanical mind.
Instead of repeating trivial thoughts, one
repeats the Divine name that galvanises
the mind. This is one powerful technique to
deal with the cacophony of useless thoughts
plaguing our mind every day, at every
Bringing silence into the mind is a time- instant. Once the outer mind is silenced,
honoured tradition in Yoga. In Sri Aurobindo’s the inner mind comes to the front. In Sri
perspective, this acquires a new dimension. Aurobindo’s paradigm, there is an inner
The mind has to be silenced not because we being or subliminal personality behind the
want to stop thinking. Instead, the mind has surface personality which is the outer being.
to be silenced because it is usually so full The inner being has an inner mind, an inner
of trivial thoughts that real, creative ideas vital and an inner or subtle physical. It is
cannot actually lodge there. The physical the inner mind which ascends to the higher
mind, which is at the lowest hierarchy of consciousness, the outer mind cannot do
the mental paradigm, usually deals with that. Also, whatever descends from above,
habitual thoughts that go on repeating from the Superconscient ranges comes to
themselves. Below the physical mind is the the inner mind. And the inner mind plunges

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