Much can be said about the mind. Even though we are oftentimes not aware of its existence. I’ve found that in focusing on my practice here, many attachments from ordinary life spring up. Like remembrances about my teens. Also, my mind comes up with many ways to enjoy itself. But I feel there is no ultimate happiness in this regard as I also wrote earlier.
About this, Krishna says in the Bhagavad-Gita: “O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.”
Our mind flickering needs to be engaged and it needs to serve some cause. Just giving up all varieties of desire is not an easy step. Rather, it is a process, which is commonly known as yoga. At Audarya we practice bhakti yoga which is not about asanas, but about devotional service. It is working for the center as to still the mind. This purifies the mind. My mind may not like physical activity like cleaning the barn or moving pieces of plywood, but ultimately this will help me realize that there is satisfaction in the self. As long as the self is connected by Krishna in service. In that sense, there is no need to take a day of, because why take a day off on the path to service, the ultimate satisfaction of the self?
Still my body and mind are not always suited or adapted to this lifestyle, and I’ve slept in maybe 3 or 4 times (missing the morning program) in my first month here. Though how much I don’t like doing this, my body sometimes forces me. There is no time to let the mind wander and that is good. So no weekends for me here or maybe I should say everyday is weekend here. Hope you enjoyed yours and let me know if there is anything in particular I should write about.

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