CHAPTER IV

Peace eludes the restless mind

The world comprises four beings: minerals, vegetables, animals and human being. We will today examine the level of consciousness that exists in them, before discussing the various aspects of human beings.

Though minerals appear dormant, they too exhibit a level of consciousness. They undergo chemical and physical changes. But these changes are almost imperceptible and so minerals are considered practically lifeless.

Plants display a higher level of consciousness when compared to minerals. Plants grow, branch out and take deep roots. But they cannot move from one place to another. Their motion is confined to one spot.

Animals are more conscious of the world than plants and minerals. They belong to a higher degree of evolution. Unlike plants, their motion is not confined to a spot. They are known to travel great distances when the need arises. Animals also are capable of expressing themselves, though in a limited way.

Humans are the most evolved among all beings. They encompass the qualities of minerals, plants and animals. Their consciousness or awareness of the world is supreme.

Human beings can plan their future course of action. That is what makes them supreme, both spiritually and materialistically. You can plan and reach your goal. No other species can do this. Human beings exhibit far more energy and motion than the routine and mechanical movement of animals. Human beings enjoy the power to control other beings.

Above all, humans alone can surmise the existence of God. To quote a spiritual leader, “Life sleeps in plants, dreams in animals and awakens in man.”

Man is defined by his degree of selflessness

Let us now examine the structure of human beings. Human beings can be categorised under five different heads: mineral person, vegetable person, animal person, human person and god person.

The degree of selflessness and selfishness is what defines a human being. A mineral person is the most self-centered. A mineral person will never look beyond himself—not even his wife or children. His primary concern is his own happiness. He is not concerned about his father, mother or spouse. He is not even conscious about the existence of others or about the needs and welfare of other beings.

Those in the mineral category are stone-like. They have no emotions. They are gross and lethargic. They hardly manifest any energy or activity. They are irresponsible and indifferent. They are heedless and they fail to react to the world. They remain only at the physical level. The nature of such a person is totally selfish.

A vegetable person is less selfish. He cares about his immediate family. But everything he does centres around his self-centered desires. His interest and attention revolve around his immediate family, spouse and children. He does not see anything beyond the periphery of his house. He mainly caters to the well being of his family. He is lost in the domestic world. He tries hard to stretch the world to suit the pleasure of his domestic service. And in this struggle, he becomes mentally disturbed and very unhappy.

Animal persons are also basically selfish. Their interests have crossed the periphery of their own body and their family. They start relating to their own community. They ideally move with their caste or creed, clan or clique, class or community and would cater to the welfare of those who belong to their fold. They are sacrificial to their own section and faction, but turn bitter to those beyond the boundary of their own group and clash with them. The angel metamorphoses into devil.

Thus different groups are at war with each other. They breed discontent and disruption in the society. The members of each group cause more pain to the other groups than the pleasure that they claim to their own people.

Human persons are far less selfish when compared to the mineral, vegetable and animal persons. They have wider interests: some identify themselves with their nations or nationals, others with all humanity. They do not find any distinction of demarcation within their enclave and advance the good to those who fall within the boundary of their circle, but not so with those who transgress their boundaries. Thus, one nation is set against the other resulting in wars after wars. The pages of history are blood stained and the good earth has turned into a veritable hell.

There is also a fifth form, which every human aspires to be. That is the god person. The god person is one who has shifted focus from the terrestrial world to transcendental reality. He reaches the state of absolute peace and bliss. Selfishness is not present in him. His love is all embracing and universal. His identification is with one and all. The godly person is free from worldly division and demarcation. His individuality has merged with the unifying divinity. Rare indeed is such a person.

A restless mind leads to frustration

The five categories of human beings—mineral, vegetable, animal, human and god—broadly fall into three mental conditions. They are: restless mind, imperfect mind and perfect mind.

A self-centered person is concerned only with himself. He focuses his attention and interest upon his individual self. His action and perception, emotion and thought are all directed towards his own welfare. He finds no desire to cater to anybody else. As a result, he remains frustrated.

As a person moves to the higher category of humans, the mind becomes more stable. It does not topple over all the time as would the restless mind, but when someone insults him, the mind becomes agitated. The agitation might last for hours and sometimes for days or months. A single incident can keep the mind disturbed for a long period.

Even before the mind can settle down, another incident can create further mental agitation. A single disturbance itself can play havoc. Such a mind is termed imperfect.

A perfect mind is free from mental agitation

You must learn to withstand external disturbances. They are an inevitable part of life.

A perfect mind, a fully evolved person is free from mental agitation. His mind possesses tranquility and peacefulness. He is the same in the best or the worst environment, situation or circumstances. Leave him in the heat or cold, he is undisturbed. Give him joy or sorrow, he is unperturbed. Treat him with honour or dishonour, he will remain the same. He is unaffected. He remains ever calm and composed and revels in the perfect state of mind.

This knowledge when acquired will help you reach the perfect state of mind. It provides the technique of disciplining the mind. An indisciplined mind can cause considerable damage and even prove fatal. You must continuously reflect on your daily life. Reflect upon the truths therein; apply them to your life. That will help you evolve further. Your mental agitation will gradually cease. You will lead a life of peace and bliss.