Mind
Dr. Hislop has been an ardent devotee of Swami for many years. There are very few people who have had so much close contact with Swami as him. His intensity as a spiritual seeker, over a number of years, and the consequent Grace received, put him in a unique place as a spiritual aspirant. We are delighted that he has agreed to answer any questions that our readers may have related to their own spiritual journey. This month, we reproduce a few questions Dr. Hislop asked Swami during interviews in the past. These are excerpted from Dr. Hislop’s book, Conversations with Sathya Sai Baba.
Hislop: In the West, great value is given to the mind. It is felt that unless one develops a skillful mind, he cannot gain success in life. For instance, I needed to develop skill of mind to get an education and earn money to travel and see Baba.
Sai: You came to see Baba because of the heart, not the mind, isn’t it? The viewpoint that there is a mind is useful up to a certain stage—university, science and so forth. But after a certain stage, science falls away and philosophy comes to the front. Heart is then used instead of mind. The other day, someone mentioned the illustration of the mirror. As one moves away, the Image grows smaller and smaller, although actually, the image is not changed at all. The same happens with the world. As one turns to God, with stronger and stronger love, the It can hardly be noticed at all. Really there is only the heart.
Hislop: Swami says that pleasure or happiness is the interval between two sorrows. What is the implication?
Sai: Pleasure is an interval between two sorrows. Remove the sorrow and only pleasure, delight remains. But nobody troubles to find the cause of sorrow. It is like the lady who went to look for a lost needle under the street lamp because there was no light in the house where she had lost the article. The house is lighted by the light of wisdom. The lost item must be found where it was lost. Actually, sorrow or pain is caused by desire. The cure is to use that same desire and turn it to God, to desire God. Instantly, suffering will cease because the cause, turning from God to worldly desire, has been eliminated. The incidents that caused sorrow will cease to cause sorrow. If a person called ‘my’ suffers, there is a direct pain in one’s self but if one’s desire is for God only, that pain will cease.
Hislop: if I am walking in the street with people around and my mind is engaged with things I must do, is that a good time for prayer?
Sai: At the beginning, one might need some special set of circumstances for clearing the mind for concentration on God. But after a while, if one finds that God is omnipresent and becomes aware of Him, and one’s thoughts are centered on God, then no matter where you are, it is the same. Prayers may be addressed to God and the prayer will reach Him.
Hislop: When Swami says ‘peace of mind’ what is the meaning He gives to that phrase?
Sai: There is some small confusion in terms but there is no mind as such. The mind is a web of desires. Peace of mind is no desires, and in that state, there is no mind. Mind is destroyed so to speak. Peace of mind really means purity, complete purity of consciousness. All spiritual practices are aimed at purification of the heart.
