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THE MYSTERIES OF MIND
breathing. Only a wakeful mind can do so. It keeps a watch on whatever goes in and out. It becomes so alert that no breath can go in or out without its notice. The mind and breath should run parallel to each other in mutual cooperation. Two companions cannot walk together if one It never of them sleeps. Breathing is a continuous process. comes to a standstill so far as the body is alive. Anyhow, the field of breathing is a limited field. The mind, on the other hand, commands a much wider area. The span of breathing is narrow. It extends from the end of the nose It to the lungs only. The mind works in a far wider area. can go round the world in less than a second. Its speed is tremendous. It is, therefore, very difficult to yoke it to the breathing process. It can not be confined to a narrow and short path. But it is, however, not an impossible task. The mind is always active and conscious, but once it goes to sleep even for a short while, it losses the company of breath.
Breath perception is a powerful means of remaining wakeful and it does not allow the mind to wander or sleep. Self-negligence becomes impossible, once the mind has been disciplined.
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Change of heart is the third consequence of sadhnā. is very difficult to bring about a change of heart. Innumerable attempts have been made to bring it about. There is a vast literature on the subject including the life histories and pronouncements of great men. And yet the problem remains unsolved. It is true that change of heart has taken place in a few instances. However, these instances are very rare. The hearts of those who have been singing praises of the change of heart have themselves remaind unchanged.
A poet once told his wife that he was going to compose a poem which will set the entire world ablaze. His wife sarcastically remarked: "Let the world alone. Let me first see if your composition can burn the fire with which I cook food." One who thinks of reforming the world can not reform himself. Preaching can change neither the heart nor the world. One who sets others to laughter himself remains sad. Grimaldi was the greatest humourist of Britain. Once he went to a physician and said to him, "I am very unhappy and sad because I have been suffering from all kinds of
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