Mouna – Its Practice and Benefits
Much energy is wasted in talking. Miscellaneous talking is a very bad habit. It distracts the mind. It keeps the mind always Bahirmukha (outgoing) and makes a human mind un-spiritual. A vow of silence must be practiced.
The Vag-Indriya (organ of speech) seriously distracts the mind.
“Speech is the fourth ‘foot’ of Mind-Brahman, because it is by means of the ‘foot’ of speech that the mind approaches the notable objects such as cow, goat, etc. Therefore speech is like a foot of mind. In the same manner, nose is a ‘foot’, because it is through nose that the mind approaches objects of smell. Similarly, the eye is a ‘foot’; the ear is another ‘foot’. This constitutes the four footed character of the Mind-Brahman” (Chhandogya Upanishad).
Do not allow anything to come out from the mind through the Vag-Indriyas (organ of speech). Observe Mouna – a vow of silence. This will help you. Considerable peace follows Mouna. The speech energy becomes transmuted into spiritual energy – Ojas. Sankalpas become much decreased. The Will becomes stronger. Now you have shut out a big source of disturbance. You will rest now, in Peace. Meditate on God or Brahman now in right earnest.
Spiritual aspirants must observe Mouna for some hours daily.
Tapas. Be careful in the selection of your words before you speak. Think thrice before you speak. Consider what effect the words will produce on the feeling of others. Observe Mouna for a couple of years. It is Tapas of speech.
Do not argue unnecessarily. Argument brings about hostility, heated feelings and wastage of energy. Every human has their own views, their own opinion, ideas, sentiments, beliefs and convictions. It is very difficult to change the views of others. Do not try to convince others. When you are an aspirant, when you are gathering facts and knowledge from the study of sacred lore, do not argue with others till your thoughts have become mature and steady.
Imagination in the mind always exaggerates. Exaggeration is a modification of a lie. Aspirants should not exaggerate. They should utter words with mathematical and scientific precision.
An aspirant is asked to give up company and observe Mouna, because on account of Raga. The chatty aspirant will multiply acquaintances. On account of Dvesha, the aspirant will incur the displeasure of others by uttering some unpleasant words. There is a sword in the tongue. Words are like arrows. They injure the feelings of others. By observing Mouna and giving up company of others, one can control the Vag-Indriya and remove Raga. Then the mind will become calm.
There are fifteen Doshas that arise from company. An aspirant should, therefore, preferably remain alone during the period of Sadhana. The Doshas of company are: (1) Misunderstanding
(2) Ill feeling
(3) Displeasure
(4) Raga-Dvesha
(5) Jealousy
(6) Vampirism
(7) Attachment
(8) Mental sharing of pain of another person
(9) Criticisms of others
(10) Anatma topics
(11) Habit of talking
(12) Bahirmukha Vritti
(13) Idea and Samskara of duality
(14) Slavish mentality and weak will
(15) Contempt.
Love little, but love long.
When you take a vow of silence never assert or force from within, saying ‘I won’t talk’. This will produce a little heat in the brain, because the mind wants to revenge you. Simply once make a determination and then remain quiet. Attend to other affairs. Do not be thinking always, ‘I won’t talk, I won’t talk.’
In the beginning, when you observe Mouna, you will find some difficulty. There will be a severe attack of the Vrittis – various kinds of thoughts will arise and force you to break the silence. Vrittis are vain imaginations and deceptions of the mind. Be bold.
Concentrate on God. The desire for talk and company will die. You will get peace.
Mouna Of The Mind
Mouna of the mind is far superior to Mouna of Vak – speech. Mouna should come of itself. It must be natural. Forced Mouna results in wrestling with the mind. It becomes an effort. If you live in Truth, Mouna will come of itself. Then only will there be absolute Peace.
What is wanted is natural Mouna and mental emptiness. It is Tamasic Tapas, that is not countenanced by Sastras and reason. In a Jivanmukta, or a liberated soul, emptiness comes of itself as the aspirant is absorbed in Brahman.
Introspection – What It Is And What It Does
Brahman created the mind and senses with outgoing tendencies. The mind has a pernicious habit of externalization from time immemorial. The mind’s habit of externalization through the senses is to protect the Soul in the body while on the Earth plane. If this becomes a constant habit you behold the external Universe and not the Internal Self. It is the Vikshepa-Sakti or Maya that draws your mind outward. From your childhood, you are taught to look to the external world and not to the internal world, loosing the faculty of Introspection. To have a comprehensive understanding of what is going on in the inner ‘mental factory’ the power of introspection is needed. Turn the mind inside then concentrate all its powers and throw them upon the mind itself, in order that the mind may know its own nature and analyze itself. This is Raja Yoga.
Make a vigorous and earnest search within. Do not trust the mind and the Indriyas.
In introspection, the mind itself is the subject of study. A portion of the mind studies the remaining portion of the mind. The higher mind studies the lower mind. Introspection is perception. A portion of the mind watches the movements of the rest of the mind. If you are one with the mind, if you identify yourself with the mind, you cannot know your defects.
If you are a Sakshi or silent witness of the mind and if you practice introspection, you can know your various defects.
By a careful watch, many defects are detected and removed by suitable Sadhana. Enter a quiet room. Start entering into silence daily for about fifteen minutes, morning and evening. Introspect. Watch the mind carefully. The mind will be doing either thinking, planning, feeling, knowing or willing. Through subjective introspection the observer can sense what the mind doing exactly at a particular time. To go through this practice, you must have Antarmukha Vritti, a subjective mind and a subtle Buddhi. Buddhi can be rendered subtle by study of philosophical books, Satsanga, control of Indriyas (Dama) and Sattvic food. The constant utterance of holy Names of God as Hari, OM, Narayana, Rama, Siva purifies the mind stuff and helps make the mind introspective (Antarmukha).
How To Practice Introspection
You are the best judge of your mind. Introspect by living alone in solitude or retiring into a calm room for an hour. You must sit quiet in a solitary room alone, with closed eyes and watch the activities of the mind. You will then know your defects and weaknesses very clearly.
You should afterwards feel the necessity of removing them, then your Svabhava should agree to change. You must know the right method to remove the defect. You must apply the method constantly. Then only improvement will set in. Constant application of Sadhana is an indispensable requisite. Watch the improvement every now and then, say, once a week, a fortnight or a month. You will have to keep a record of your progress in a daily spiritual diary. Watch carefully whether you remain stationary or retrograding, whether the mind is distracted or concentrated. If it is distracted, you must remove the distracting causes one by one with kindness, patience and vigilance. If one method fails to bring about the desired results, combine two methods (the Yogic methods and Vichara).
Remember the triplet – self-analysis, self-reliance, self-determination. It will be of immense use in your spiritual Sadhana. Analyse your self through introspection. Find out the nature of your Vrittis. Find out what Guna – quality – is predominating at a particular moment, whether it is Sattva, Rajas or Tamas.
How long can the mind be absolutely fixed on your Lakshya – point of meditation – either God, Brahman, idea or object, whether internal or external? How long can the mind be fixed on the object, to the exclusion of all other objects – whether two seconds or two minutes or five minutes or half an hour. This is self analysis. Rely on your self alone. You are your own redeemer and saviour. Nobody can give you Moksha. You will have to tread the spiritual path step by step. Books and Gurus can show the path and guide you. This is self reliance. Make a strong self determination, “I will realize God. I will have Atma-Sakshatkara or Brahmanubhava this very moment and not in the uncertain future.” This is self determination.
Busy people have no time to think over the problems of life, the mystery of life, etc. They get up in the morning. Their minds usually run to the special objects of enjoyment on account of Raga. Their mental energies are poured forth in the usual grooves and avenues-in thoughts of body, thoughts of eating and dressing, thoughts of wife, children, friends and also thoughts of office-work and business; and thus, the day is over. The same routine follows day after day, week after week. Years roll on and life is wasted. It is highly lamentable, indeed!
Only the aspirant who does Mouna, Manana – reflection, and introspection through Antarmukha Vritti can change their worldly nature. In that aspirant only the idea of Brahman can get permanently lodged.
The benefits of Mouna – Silence – are incalculable. Observe Mouna for one hour daily. Live alone for one hour in a room. Introspect. Meditate. Watch your thoughts carefully.