Dedicating the deeds performed by the senses

• Author : Vidwan Guruprasad Bhat
• Translation: Akshay Venkatesh

Kavi who was a descendant of King Priyavrata stated, “kAyena vAcha manasA indriyaihi vA”, implying that all deeds performed through the body, speech, mind and other senses must be dedicated to the Lord. We learnt the importance of dedicating the deeds performed by the tongue in the previous issue. In this issue, let us understand the importance of dedicating the deeds performed by the mind (manas) to the Lord.

Irrespective of which sense organ is used to perform the deed, if the mind does not dwell in the Lord at that point of time, that deed cannot become perfect. The mind must be fixated upon the Lord. Only then is the deed complete. The intellect to submit to the Lord can arise in the mind solely through His motivation. Scriptures consider the mind as the sixth sense organ. All the other senses attain consciousness only after associating with the mind. For example – although sound echoes in the ears, the desire to listen blooms only in the mind. Desire is the nature of the mind. Thus, if the mind desires not to listen, the sounds will not reach the ears.

The knowledge of appearance is experienced by eyes. The eyes percieve the object only if the mind desires to see it. The tongue produces speech. Only if the mind wants to speak is the speech expressed. The sense of taste is experienced through the tongue. Only when the mind has the willingness to accept a flavor does a person consume it. The sense of smell is experienced by the nose only by the will of the mind. The sensation of touch is also experienced when the desire to feel blossoms in the mind. Thus, the mind is a very powerful sense organ. talavakAra upanishad cites an incident where the five-faced Lord Rudra who is also the controller of mind asks the four faced Lord Brahma, “Who ultimately controls the mind (kEnEshitam patati prEShitam manaha)”? Lord Brahma replies that the supreme power which controls the organs of sense and the organs of action, controls the mind too.

तत्र तत्र स्थितो विष्णुः तत्तच्छक्तिः प्रबोधयन् ।
एक एव महाशक्तिः कुरुते सर्वमंजसा ॥

tatra tatra sthito viShNuH tattacCaktiH prabodhayan |
eka eva mahASaktiH kurute sarvamaMjasA ||

“Lord Vishnu resides everywhere (in all the senses) providing strength to them, He is the ultimate power” – Lord Brahma states that even his own mind is controlled by Lord Vishnu.

According to the hierarchy of devatas, although the power to control the mind rests with Chandra, Rudra, Lakshmi etc., it is important to know that Lord Krishna is the supreme controller of the mind. In the Bhagavad GIta, Arjuna asks Krishna – “How does one control this mind which is fickle by nature?” Krishna the supreme controller of mind, enlightened Arjuna saying – “By practice and detachment, one can control the mind”. As cited in “mana eva manuShyANAm kAraNam bandha mokShayOhO “, mind is the reason for liberation from the world, and also the reason for bindings in the world; mind is the key. When good thoughts emerge in the mind, it leads us towards salvation; when bad thoughts emerge in the mind, it leads us towards bindings. Thus, Kavi pronounces in the eleventh canto of Shrimad bhAgavata that all the good deeds which are inculcated in the mind and performed, should be dedicated to Lord Narayana.

May Lord Krishna propel our minds with the desire to perform pious deeds.

Image courtesy : mydailysadhana.org

Akshaya

Ramaa-kalatrana Daasa-vargake Namipenanavarata || Always at the humble feet of Sri-Hari’s dasas!!