" Never has the young generation experienced as
much chaos as in current times. Media,
politicians, terrorists, educationists, missionaries
and saints – all have made them their common
target. Good and evil, fanatics and moderates,
all wish the youth to agree with their point of
view.
For a country, it is of utmost importance that the
youth are looked after in terms of mental,
psychological and spiritual development. Any
wrong education imparted to them can be
dangerous for all humanity. Very few can resist
the ceaseless thoughts and desires that pass their
mind. Words have immense power. It can
invoke violence in the young. The sight of so
many luxuries excites them; negative thoughts
are detrimental to their psychology. Curbing
desire seems pointless to them. With little
control over their senses, the young wish to
fulfill all that their mind desires. Thwarted in
this, they often resort to crime. Adding fuel to
fire are those who advise them to listen to their
heart’s dictates. Ideas are mocked at. The
contemporary mantra is to let the senses rule the
intellect. The result is increase in crime, loss of
tolerance and an erosion of moral values.
The age from 12 years to 25 years is the most
dangerous. Energy levels are at their highest,
hormonal changes take place; sensual pleasures
take precedence over all else. Aware of the fire
of the senses, rishis and munis dealt with such
problems scientifically. They realized that when
energy is concentrated in the sexual organs or
mulaadhar, it creates havoc in the body. The
energy needs to be brought upwards towards
the Shiva netra, which is in the middle of the
brow. In yogic parlance, it is called Aagya
Chakra. Also called the third eye, this point
disciplines the mind and curtails negative
emotions. Just as an airport needs a control
tower, similarly the body needs an activated
Aagya Chakra to control the mind. If it remains
undeveloped it gives rise to an imbalance of
emotions and a criminal bent of mind.
An activated Aagya Chakra improves
concentration, develops inner discipline and
negates negativity. Yoga devised several
techniques to control the mind, but even among
them few are able to conquer it. The mind is in
constant danger from anger, ego, lust,
attachment and pride. The more a person
indulges in luxuries, the more he becomes
intolerant and a slave of the mind. A yogi has
learnt that the mind will be still only when it is
one with inner light. It pains him to see the
magnificent power of the mind going to
senseless waste.
Vedanta had emphasized that outside elements
play havoc with the mind. The only solution
was disciplining of senses. Imitating their elders,
the young feel no moral compunction in
indulging the senses. Being full of energy the
young wish to conquer the world. A laudable
goal, perhaps, but Vedanta says that this can be
done only if you are in total control of your
mind. Once you are free from slavery of the
mind, no outside element can act upon you.
When a sage asks you to remain in touch with
your culture he does not want to turn the clock
backwards. When you go out from your home
every morning, don’t you come back? When you
rise don’t you go to sleep at night? No one is
stopping you from going out in the world,
working hard and becoming wealthy. But, it is
necessary to return to your consciousness after a
hard day’s work to find out whether you have
strayed or led a life as stated by those ancient
masters – the rishis and munis.
Irrespective of outer circumstances one can be
calm and quiet. There are plenty of yogic
exercises that can tame the mind. The youth of
today have great opportunities, and are able to
procure wealth far sooner than their parents did.
If spent nobly, wealth can be a blessing for
humanity. The rule to happiness is in
understanding your relationship with the world.
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah; the entire Universe
should be happy. "
-----------------------Published in " Chetana ", Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, December 2001
