Removing Hooks

Our mind is like a cloth that is spread out over a bush with many thorns (imagine the thorns to be materials, relationships, our activities), these are having many hooks and through these hooks our mind is caught here and there. If you want to withdraw the mind the bush will not allow this. We should study, where are the hooks, “Ah, here is a hook for my mind due to some money transaction, my mind is constantly thinking – is it going up, or is it going down” – there is a hook there. Another hook might be there with the wife or husband, name or fame, so we have many hooks. We should know those hooks and we should know how to eliminate those hooks gradually. Then if we order our mind to come back, it will come back. So, very cleverly we should withdraw our mind from the materialistic world. For this normally the yogic technique is to sit and practice, then alone you will understand where the problem (hooks) are seen. You’ll understand, “Oh, even as I try to forget the whole world, yet I can not forget my coffee” – if the smell of coffee comes – immediately the mind travels there. Gradually you’ll be able to withdraw as you understand this mechanism. For this one should try to keep the mind still and then, observe and introspect: what is going on? Are there thoughts coming? Which thoughts? Observe. Why does it appear, there should be some reason, we have some commitment there. That is why it appears, so we have to cancel that commitment, or we have to limit that commitment, understanding there must be a condition; “I’ll attend that at such and such a time – this though is not the time to attend to that – you are not allowed now.” Then gradually through restricting, or cutting them you will be able to stop all modifications.