THE MIND IS A CUNNING ANIMAL
The mind, which we call a cunning animal, is always pleasure-seeking. It operates 90 – 95 percent of the time by associating ideas. One thought breeds dozens of thoughts, and when all those thoughts come about in the mind, it is in a fragmented state.
Because of the association of ideas, a conflict is created between what we call good and what we call bad. When this conflict occurs in the mind, and the impulses of the various chemicals and thought matter are pulsating and interchanging within each other, it forms a cloud so the light of Divinity cannot shine through. That is why, though man is essentially divine, he forgets his divinity because of the conflicts in the mind. The disputes cover up the veil, the Divinity that is there.
It has been repeatedly said in the scriptural injunctions that “be pure of heart and thou shall see God.” “Be guileless, without guile, and thou shall see God.” Another phrase could be added: “Be innocent as the child, and thou shall see God.” So, it really means to reach that stage of childlikeness, where the machinations of the mind do not interfere. I have said this before: “God plus mind makes man; man minus mind makes God”. So, the thing that stands between man and God is the mind.
WHAT THEY MEAN BY PURITY
What they mean by “purity” is to bring that mind to a tranquil state, to bring the mind to a clarity where the samskaras do not clash, and so that you could be in the presence of the Light. That Light is God.
Purity firstly would imply clarity, a clearness of the mind. When the mind is clear and accessible of these conflicts, it can appreciate the power of Divinity – and not only the power of Divinity alone but the power of the mind itself. For this reason, although being the biggest troublemaker, it can be used as the finest tool.
When we talk of the purity of the Heart, the core of the human personality which we call “Heart” is forever pure. There is no impurity at the core of one’s personality. The impurity is the covering that covers the heart, the core of one’s personality, and that core is divine. Because it is being individualised through the process of evolution, because the one atom has now been fragmented into millions of atoms, it is still connected with every other atom. Like in the pond, with all these thousands of bubbles, only the one sun reflects itself in all these bubbles.
So, the core of the human personality is Divinity, and that Divinity is one. Therefore, as the mind is brought to a tranquil state through meditation and spiritual practices when all the ripples and the waves subside through these practices, one is faced with Divinity.
… Gururaj Ananda Yogi: Satsang US 1979 – 20
