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By SWAMI SIVANANDA

Once a Sanskrit scholar approached Kabir and asked him, O Kabir, what are you doing now? Kabir replied, O Pundit, I am detaching the mind from worldly objects and attaching it to the lotus-feet of the Lord.

This is concentration. Concentration, or Dharana, is centring the mind on one single thought. Vedantins try to fix the mind on the Atman. This is their Dharana. Hath Yogins and Raja Yogins concentrate their mind on the six chakras, energy centres. Bhaktas concentrate on their Ishta Devata, tutelary deity.

Concentration is a great necessity for all aspirants. During concentration, the various rays of the mind are collected and focusedon the object of concentration. There will be no tossing of the mind. When there is deep concentration, there is no consciousness of the body and surroundings.

Everybody possesses some ability to concentrate. Everybody does concentrate to a certain extent when he reads a book, when he writes a letter, when he plays tennis and, in fact, when he does any kind of work. But, for spiritual purposes, concentration should be developed to an infinite degree.

There is great concentration when you play cards or chess, but the mind is not filled with pure and divine thoughts. The mental contents are of an undesirable nature. You can hardly experience the divine thrill, ecstasy and elevation when the mind is filled with impure thoughts. Every object has its own mental associations. You will have to fill up the mind with sublime, spiritual thoughts. Then only the mind will be expurgated of all worldly thoughts.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Centring of The Mind - Economic Times