by Madhusudana Visnu Das
Some will tell an assertive no.
Some will say, “Why not?”
Some will suggest, “Maybe, sometimes.”
Different people will have different opinions, but we test the rightness of any action based on the result. In Sanskrit we call this, “phalena parichiyate”: judge by the results. What result are we looking at by yelling or shouting at our mind? Do we do it as a reaction out of frustration? Or do we do so with an intent to check our mind, to control and rectify it?
Besides, what is right in a particular situation at a particular time may not be so right at another situation and at another time. Here I quote myself,
“To do what is right is not right enough, but to do it at the right time, in the right place, and in the right way, and with the right intent too, makes it completely right.”
In my journey of last 12 years of practicing spirituality I have tried to understand the concept of controlling the mind and have also discussed with other spiritualists trying to do the same. I will admit that though shouting at the mind sometimes does alarm it and check it from drifting away or getting distracted, but also at many times the consequence is totally opposite — the mind becomes more rebellious and adamant. I tried to figure out the reason behind this through my study of the different books of yoga and meditation, and also inner contemplation, and my search brought me to a very satisfying understanding.
In the chapter 6 of Bhagavad-gita, entitled Dhyana-yoga, or the yoga of meditation, it delineates some characteristics of the mind. It says that the mind is very flickering and obstinate. Also, it is turbulent and strong. Such a powerful mind cannot be controlled by shouting at it alone. It definitely needs something more than that. And what is that will become more comprehensible by comparing the mind to a child.
We know small children for being fickle and also very obstinate. Controlling them is no effortless task. Nevertheless, an experienced mother very well knows how to control them. She knows the art of tricking them into doing what she wants them to do. She does not shout or yell at them at all times, but she intelligently devises means to gently and adeptly persuade them in doing what is good for them. She is often very firm in her instructions, but she is not necessarily loud. That is what we, the spiritualists, need to learn. We have to somehow or other trick our minds into doing what we want it to do, and in this way become successful in controlling it. We have to be firm in our dealings with the mind, but we need not always horrify it or punish it by shouting at it as that may have very serious ill consequences.
A mother may sometimes be shouting also when it is so required. But she does it in a way that the child does not become overly disturbed, and not more antagonistic than before. In the same way, we can sometimes use loudness of our inner voice as a tool to check our mind, but not if it makes our mind more unfriendly to ourselves.
So, coming back to the question, “Should I yell at my mind”, I would say, “Not always, but if required, sometimes is okay and that too in a regulated manner.”