Concentrate the mind (Conversations and Letters)

Expressions researched:
"concentrate one's mind" |"concentrate the mind" |"concentrated the mind" |"concentrates the mind" |"concentrating one's mind" |"concentrating the mind"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Real yoga practice is, after controlling the senses, the next stage is samādhi, concentrate the mind, focus the mind on Viṣṇu always. Always thinking of Viṣṇu, always seeing Viṣṇu within himself.

Questions and Answers -- September 6, 1968, New York:

Prabhupāda: Actually, therefore, Kṛṣṇa says that the perfection of, real perfection of yoga, the first-class yogi is he who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. That is first-class. He is recommended.

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ

mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā

śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ

sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

(BG 6.47)

"The first-class yogi is he who is always..." He never says that first-class yogi is he who can show this jugglery. No. That is not recommended. Actually, and the yoga practice begins, samādhi. Real yoga practice is, after controlling the senses, the next stage is samādhi, concentrate the mind, focus the mind on Viṣṇu always. Always thinking of Viṣṇu, always seeing Viṣṇu within himself. That is yoga practice. But by such practice, automatically one gains such powerful things, and when one gains such powerful powers, they want to exhibit to get following for material achievements. But that is not the purpose of yoga. Yoga means to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead and ultimately reach in His kingdom. That is the real purpose of yoga.

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Our process is also meditation. But as you understand by meditation, that concentrating the mind upon some super subject matter, the same thing is there, but we don't try to concentrate the mind artificially. But our, this chanting process immediately attracts the mind.

Radio Interview -- February 12, 1969, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: No, no. Simply becoming non-intoxicated does not mean that he is a very good man. That I admit.

Interviewer: Does the method include meditation? What... How do you go about this process?

Prabhupāda: Our process is... It is also meditation. But as you understand by meditation, that concentrating the mind upon some super subject matter, the same thing is there, but we don't try to concentrate the mind artificially. But our, this chanting process immediately attracts the mind. Our process is... Just like Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. We chant it in melodious song. So mind is attracted, and we try to hear the sound. That means my mind and my ear is compact in that thought. Therefore it is practical meditation.

1970 Conversations and Morning Walks

The actual meditation means concentrate one's mind on Viṣṇu form. That is real meditation.

Room Conversation -- December 21, 1970, Surat:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Chanting and hearing, locked up. Mind is locked up. And because the Kṛṣṇa vibration is locked up, then Kṛṣṇa is locked up, because there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and His name, absolute. Kṛṣṇa is absolute. Therefore there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and His name, His form, His pastimes.

nāma-cintāmaṇi-kṛṣṇaś

caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ

purnaḥ śuddho nitya-mūkto

'bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ

Because nāma and the nāminaḥ, being inseparable, therefore nāma is also purna, nitya, śuddha, mukta.

Guest (3): What is the trance that... The meditation, trance enters. It is called...

Prabhupāda: Trance is... The actual meditation means concentrate one's mind on Viṣṇu form. That is real meditation. But now they have, the impersonalists and voidists, they have manufactured so many things, but actual meditation means...

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Yoga means to concentrate the mind on a subject matter. So we should meditate upon Kṛṣṇa. Then gradually you'll increase your attachment for Kṛṣṇa. And that is the perfection of life.

Morning Walk -- March 31, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: This is yoga practice also. Yoga. Yoga means to concentrate the mind on a subject matter. So we should meditate upon Kṛṣṇa. Mayy āsakta. Then gradually you'll increase your attachment for Kṛṣṇa. And that is the perfection of life. The perfection of life, the symbol is in Vṛndāvana. Because all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, they were very, very, much attached to Kṛṣṇa.

Mr. Sar: Attached to Kṛṣṇa were.

Prabhupāda: The cowherd boys, the girls, the elderly persons, the trees, the flowers, the land, the birds, the beasts, the cows-their center was Kṛṣṇa. So we have to follow their footprints, how to... We have got already attachment.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Mind's business is to accept and reject. Therefore it is not truth. The mind, when you concentrate the mind to the truth, then it is all right.

Morning Walk -- December 24, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Mind's business is to accept and reject. Therefore it is not truth.

Dr. Patel: Only by mind and concentration of the mind you get the truth.

Prabhupāda: Concentration is different.

Dr. Patel: But that is also of what? Of the mind.

Prabhupāda: The mind, when you concentrate the mind to the truth, then it is all right.

Dr. Patel: That is what I say. By concentration of the mind you get the truth. That is the right.

Prabhupāda: Mind is not truth.

Dr. Patel: Mind is not truth, but by mind we get at the truth.

Prabhupāda: Yes. We can direct our mind towards truth.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Yogi concentrates the mind to think over, He is trying to, very soberly, to understand. Yoga means controlling the senses, and the master of the senses is the mind.

Room Conversation with Indian Man -- December 22, 1976, Poona:

Prabhupāda: Out of many millions of persons, mostly they are karmīs. They do not know what is the actual aim of life. But they are devising different plans, that I shall be happy in this way." This is called karmī. He does not take the standard way of happiness. Then the next elevated person is jñānī. He thinks, ponders, that "I have worked so hard, but still I could not become happy." The jñānī. He searches out philosophically. Then next class, yogi. Yogi concentrates the mind to think over, "What is my problem? Why I am not happy? How he can become happy?" He is trying to, very soberly, to understand. Yoga means controlling the senses, and the master of the senses is the mind. So he, trying to make the mind concentrated on the fact, he is yogi. And then the next stage is... If he is yogi, then there are different types of yoga system. But when he comes to the point that "I am not master. There is one master, controller. So master, whatever master orders, I have to execute that. That is my real happiness." Bhakta. So karmī, jñānī, yogi, and bhakta. So out of these four classes of men, the three classes means karmī, jñānī and yogi, they are restless. Because they actually did not find out what is the solution. One after another, there are different classes, there are classification. One is better than the other. That is another thing. But none of them... They are still misled.

1969 Correspondence

Anyway, even if we are disturbed, then the only resort is to chant and concentrate one's mind in Krishna. There is no other alternative. Chanting and dancing make one relieved of all material burdens.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Hawaii 23 March, 1969:

Please accept my blessings. I am duly in receipt of your letter of March 18, 1969, and I thank you very much for it. Yes, I have written Dayala Nitai in connection with the yoga magazine, and you can keep me informed on this matter. Please try to run on smoothly as is possible.

Yes, it is very good if you can chant 64 rounds; this is very nice if you can do it. But first of all we should not be disturbed by any circumstances. If you do become disturbed then this means you are still deficient in reaching the point. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that when Krishna is within our view, at that time one is not disturbed even in the midst of gravest calamity. Anyway, even if we are disturbed, then the only resort is to chant and concentrate one's mind in Krishna. There is no other alternative. Chanting and dancing make one relieved of all material burdens.