MY WORDS ARE IN MY CONTROL

Meditation offers me powerful tools through which I can improve my character. This is because in meditation, I am no longer just reacting to external stimuli, but I am looking at what is going on in the mind, and consciously creating the type of thoughts that I would like to have habitually.

I do this through the intellect. The intellect takes hold of the reins of the mind and chooses the direction in which to travel. When it does this repeatedly, my sanskaras - the imprints or tendencies within my character - start to change.

Soul-consciousness is the key to taking charge of what is going on in my mind. If I believe that my thoughts and feelings, including my sense of self, are simply consequences of brain processes, it means I've let go of the key. The more my consciousness is trapped in my physical identity, the more difficult it will be for me to discipline my mind.

In meditation, when I bring myself back to the knowledge that I am a soul, and my intellect accepts and absorbs this awareness, I recognize that my thoughts are my own creation, and that I can make choices about them. I realize that my natural state is to be the master of my mind, and I start taking charge of what is going on inside.