My mind will not stop overthinking
A restless mind jumps from worry to worry and rarely lets us rest. Even Arjuna said the mind is as hard to hold as the wind; these verses share Krishna's patient answer.
Read them slowly. Pick the one that touches you most and try its practice today.
Arjuna said चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम्।तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥6.34॥
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍhamtasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram
Arjuna says: Krishna, the mind is restless, turbulent, powerful and stubborn. I think controlling it is as hard as controlling the wind.
Try this todaySpend two minutes today simply watching where your mind goes, without trying to stop it. Write down three places it jumped to.
Krishna said असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलं।अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥6.35॥
asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calaṃabhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
Krishna replies: no doubt, Arjuna, the mind is restless and hard to control. But it can be held through steady practice and detachment.
Try this todayChoose one tiny daily practice, like five minutes of quiet breathing, and one small thing to let go of, like checking your phone in bed. Begin both today.
Krishna said शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥6.25॥
śanaiḥ śanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayāātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet
one should become still gradually, little by little, with an intellect held firm by patience. Settling the mind in the Self, one should think of nothing else.
Try this todayIn your quiet sitting today, do not force the mind to be silent. Simply let each thought pass slowly, and lengthen the gaps between them a little.
Krishna said यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्।ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥6.26॥
yato yato niścarati manaścañcalamasthiramtatastato niyamyaitadātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet
Wherever the restless, unsteady mind wanders off, from there one should bring it back and place it under control in the Self alone.
Try this todayWhile studying or working today, keep a slip of paper nearby. Each time your mind drifts, make a small tick and gently return to the page.
Krishna said यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥6.19॥
yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtāyogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ
Like a lamp in a windless place that does not flicker: that is the image used for the disciplined mind of a yogi practising focus on the Self.
Try this todayLight a lamp or candle, or picture one, and watch the steady flame for two minutes. Return to this image whenever your mind feels shaky today.
Krishna said नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना।न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ॥2.66॥
nāsti buddhirayuktasya na cāyuktasya bhāvanāna cābhāvayataḥ śāntiraśāntasya kutaḥ sukham
Krishna says: one who is undisciplined has no steady understanding and no deep contemplation. Without contemplation there is no peace, and without peace, how can there be happiness?
Try this todaySet one fixed time today for a short practice, reading, prayer or a walk, and keep that appointment with yourself no matter what.
Krishna said आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥2.70॥
āpūryamāṇamacalapratiṣṭhaṃ samudramāpaḥ praviśanti yadvattadvatkāmā yaṃ praviśanti sarve sa śāntimāpnoti na kāmakāmī
Krishna says: the ocean stays full and unmoved though rivers keep pouring into it. In the same way, one into whom all desires flow without disturbing them attains peace, not the one who chases desires.
Try this todayWhen a desire arises today, let it come and go like a river into the ocean. Notice it, don't feed it, and see how it settles.
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