Baba says, “Do not think, speak, listen to or do anything negative. Let your mind and intellect become such that they do not touch anything negative. Let there be transformation in a second.“

This is Ravan’s world, Baba reminds me daily. No matter how good of a person I am, where I live, there will be negative, discouraging, no-good thoughts that come knocking on the door of my mind: “That project won’t work out, you’re just not skilled enough”, “the doctor didn’t sound too optimistic, I might never get well”, “business has slowed down, in this economy, it might never recover..”, “I don’t think I can ever get past this anger…”. This is Ravan’s main weapon- thoughts of negativity, worry, discouragement. Why? because the venue of the great Mahabharat war that I am fighting right now is the mind. If he can make my mind busy with weak thoughts, then I pretty much lose the war. This is why Baba says, “If you win over the mind, you win the world.“

Baba, my Commander-in-Chief, reveals something very important to me that helps me in this context: He teaches me that I am the creator of my thoughts. Previously, I didn’t know this. I thought I was at the mercy of my mind, that I was stuck with the thoughts that dropped into my mind. When those thoughts change, I would feel better. But now I know that I, the soul, am the master, the mind is not. I get to choose what I think about and what I don’t. If a negative thoughts comes, I don’t have to think it; I get to dismiss it. Right at birth, I receive a divine intellect that I need to use to guard my mind. The more I use it, the more powerful it gets. Let me learn to be selective in what I allow in. That means, when the thought comes, I see it and don’t engage. I don’t get onboard thinking: “Hmm, yea, maybe I’m not good enough…”, “yes, this is the 2nd time I got angry just this week, maybe I can’t get past it after all…”. Baba says, “When a negative thought comes, don’t say, “Let me think about it a little; let me see what it is.” When transformation takes place at a quick speed, it is known as the pleasure and enjoyment of Brahmin life.“

And so Baba #1 shrimat is: “Manmanabhav! Belong only to Me in your mind.” Let me check what my mind is focused on. It is said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. If I allow my mind to be idle, it will dwell on the negative because that’s what’s in the atmosphere in Ravan’s world. And so I need to deliberately keep my mind occupied with positive thoughts. There is nothing more positive and elevated than Baba’s murli- it is the treasure trove of the most elevated jewels. If I keep my mind focused on them, churning the points constantly like a cow keeps chewing the cud all day long, then I keep negativity at bay. Baba says, “Let your mind and intellect become such that they do not touch anything negative.“

But often, the mistake I make is that I try to pay attention to my mind the hard way. When I become aware of a negative thought, I try to dismiss it: “No, I won’t think this thought, I won’t worry anymore” but the problem is the thought will come back again in just a few seconds. Baba says, “Let there be transformation in a second. Your mind and the intellect should become such fast weapons.” If I am busy churning the knowledge I receive from Baba, there is no scope for negativity. But during those times when the thought does come, it isn’t sufficient to simply dismiss the negative thought, I need to then immediately replace it with a positive thought. So along with: “I won’t worry anymore”, I add, “Baba, I know that You are in-charge of my life. You are my Protector and Benefactor. You will bring me out.” So the principle is: check and change immediately, in a second. If I don’t nip the negative thought in the bud, soon it becomes a huge tree and it’s always harder and more painful to fell a tree than nip a small bud.

If I think can-do thoughts, encouraging thoughts, get-well thoughts, then I become strong, powerful. If I think weak thoughts, I become weak, my faith diminishes. I am what I think – it’s that simple. Sometimes I wonder if thinking positive when everything around me is negative is denying reality. I am in financial trouble or my child is off on the wrong track- in these circumstances, how can one not worry? Yes, these are tough circumstances but worrying about them neither helps me nor makes the situation better. On the contrary, worrying rapidly depletes the strength of the soul because negative thoughts come fast and furious. I become paralyzed and lose my ability to think clearly. No, I don’t deny the present reality but I choose what to dwell on. Is it helpful to dwell on the circumstances or dwell on God? Whom would I rather have yoga with? One makes me weaker and the other makes me stronger. One makes me alone, the other gives me the companionship of the Almighty Father. It doesn’t take any more energy to stay in faith than it takes to worry. This small tweak can turn my whole life around. Now instead of my thoughts defeating me, draining my energy, limiting my future, I use my thoughts, consciously, to encourage me, empower me and to build up my faith.

If I get my mind going in the right direction, my life will go in the right direction. Let me check if my thoughts are limiting me or empowering me, if I am thinking thoughts of worry, defeat, can’t-do-it or if I am thinking thoughts of victory, breakthroughs and peace. Let me keep my mind occupied in God’s knowledge. If a negative thought comes, let me check and change immediately. “If you want to live“, Baba says, “live with enjoyment. To live a life with a lot of thinking is not living.”