Internal Inferno

The mind is its own place, and can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. Milton, in Paradise Lost, quotes Satan, who said these words when he was expelled from heaven for rebelling against God.

One can visualise one's mind as a garden where one can choose to plant beautiful plants or grow weeds. Have you noticed that your reaction to any situation determines whether you end up happy or sad? This reaction initially comes from emotions and later gets processed into thoughts that form a lasting impression. Man has the free will to overcome his reflexes, consciously organise his thoughts around a situation, and maintain his balance. But this is easier said than done, as the mind is wayward and restless.

Arjun agonises over this and tells Krishn that it may perhaps be easier to control the wind than the turbulent mind. But magnetic Krishn attracts - 'karshati iti Krishna', so Arjun pleads with Krishn to draw his mind towards Himself. Krishn advises Arjun to overcome the mind and turn it into a friend through constant practice and use its power to rise above petty feelings; if not, it turns into an enemy within. We can likewise practise vairagya/detachment from objects that trouble and entice the mind and focus it on the positive.