How to Control the Mind

Uddhava: "O Achyuta, the mind is my greatest obstacle. I sit to meditate, and it wanders to a thousand places. I resolve to be calm, and within moments I am agitated. How can one control this restless enemy?"

Krishna: "Uddhava, you speak of the mind as an enemy, and indeed it can be. But the same mind, when trained, becomes the greatest friend. The problem is not the mind itself—it is identification with its movements."

Uddhava: "But Lord, how does one even begin? The mind seems to have a will of its own. It refuses to obey."

Krishna: "Begin by understanding its nature. The mind is not one thing—it is a flow of impressions, memories, desires, and fears. It has momentum from countless lifetimes. You cannot stop this flow by force, just as you cannot stop a river by pushing against it."

Uddhava: "Then what is the method?"

Krishna: "Redirect, do not resist. When a thought arises, do not fight it—gently bring your attention back to the object of meditation. Again and again, without frustration, without judgment. This patient redirection is the essence of practice."

Uddhava: "What should be the object of meditation?"

Krishna: "For My devotees, the best object is My form. Visualize Me seated in your heart—with all My ornaments, My smile, My lotus eyes. Or focus on a single attribute—the sound of My name, the feeling of My presence. The mind that loves its object does not wander."

Uddhava: "Is that why devotion is said to be easier than other paths?"

Krishna: "Yes. The dry mind resists control because it has nothing attractive to hold onto. But when the mind is given something it loves, it rests naturally. A child does not need to be forced to play—they do so willingly because play is delightful. Make meditation delightful through love."

Uddhava: "What about breath control and posture? The yogis speak much of these."

Krishna: "They are helpful supports, not the essence. Sit comfortably so the body does not distract. Breathe slowly and deeply to calm the nervous system. But do not make technique more important than the goal. A well-prepared seat means nothing if the rider does not mount the horse."

Uddhava: "How long does it take to achieve mental stillness?"

Krishna: "That depends on the intensity of practice and the accumulated tendencies. Some achieve it quickly; others take longer. But do not measure progress by how still you sit. Measure it by how you respond to life outside meditation. If you become calmer, kinder, and less reactive, the practice is working."

Uddhava: "What about the obstacles—desires, memories, distractions that arise during practice?"

Krishna: "They will arise. This is certain. See them as clouds passing through the sky of awareness. The sky does not grasp the clouds or push them away. It remains open. You are that sky. Let thoughts pass, and they lose their power."

Uddhava: "Sometimes memories from the past trouble me greatly—regrets, old wounds."

Krishna: "These arise because they seek healing. Observe them with compassion rather than aversion. A memory that is fully experienced, without resistance, dissolves. It is only our pushing away that gives old pain fresh life."

Uddhava: "And what of desires for the future?"

Krishna: "Desires arise from the belief that something external will complete you. In meditation, you touch the fullness that is already present. The more you taste this inner completeness, the weaker future-oriented desires become. You do not eliminate desire—you outgrow it."

Uddhava: "Is there a single most important instruction for mastering the mind?"

Krishna: "Consistency. A little practice every day is worth more than great effort followed by long gaps. The mind is like a musical instrument—it must be tuned daily. Even ten minutes of sincere daily practice will achieve more than hours of sporadic effort."

Uddhava: "What about when life becomes chaotic? When circumstances make formal practice impossible?"

Krishna: "Then life itself becomes the practice. Remember Me while you work, while you eat, while you speak. Offer every action to Me. This continuous remembrance is the highest yoga—superior even to formal meditation. The devotee who thinks of Me in every circumstance has achieved what the yogi seeks through years of seclusion."

Uddhava: "(feeling hope) Krishna, I feel hope now. The path seems clearer."

Krishna: "The mind that has turned toward Me is already on the way to stillness. Do not worry about perfection—worry only about sincerity. A sincere heart compensates for every weakness of the mind. Begin today, continue tomorrow, and trust the process. The same power that created the universe will tame your little mind when you invite it to do so."