Q. How to conquer worry?
To even understand worry, we need to possess a deep insight into the nature of our own minds. The way into worry is through the mind, and only through the mind can we find a way out. Instead, we insist on searching for answers in all the wrong places - in external circumstances. We tell ourselves, ‘If only I had enough money there would be nothing to worry about; if only I was better-looking; if only, if only...’ This is a truly futile exercise.
A small story:
One evening Nitti Mudaliar was found searching earnestly for something in the courtyard before his house.
When his wife asked him about it, he replied that he had dropped a coin. His wife joined in the search.
Soon others gathered and practically the whole neighborhood was searching for the lost coin, to no avail.
Suddenly one young man asked Nitti, ‘Which is the exact spot where you dropped the coin? Even half an hour’s search has yielded no results!’
‘Oh’, said Nitti, ‘I lost the coin inside the house.’
‘Then why are we searching here?’ cried an amazed neighbour.
‘The problem is’, said Nitti, ‘I have no lights inside my house. Out here at least there’s the streetlamp. We can search by its light.’
It is an amusing story, is it not? But you must know that your behavior too is equally amusing. You too go about your search for freedom from worry in much the same manner without a clue as to its true causes and nature.
Once you understand how the mind works, this becomes simple. Just as a key can be used both to lock and unlock a door, you can use the words playing in your mind to sink into depression or rise into ecstasy.
The mantra to combat worry is simple: continuous positive thinking. Be alert. Whenever you become aware of a negative thought surfacing, begin to feed your mind positive thoughts instead. It is not an easy task, of course. In the beginning, when you utter positive words, your mind (which has been so well-trained to respond negatively) is not going to learn these words easily. A small corner of your mind will continue to protest, ‘Do you think I’m a fool to be taken in by a few positive words?’
But by and by, you can alter the quality of the mind. It is perfectly possible to change your mental programming. After all, it is you have programmed it! You know how to do it. Now just redo it in a different way, that’s all. The moment you see how easily worry can be created and destroyed by mere words, you will realize how unreal it is. To go beyond inner chatter for even a few moments is to become aware, to become alive.
The very understanding of how unnecessary worry is, naturally unlocks the treasures of the manipuraka chakra. Suffering dissolves of its own accord. And in its place arises that state which neither pleasure nor pain can disturb - the state of ananda, bliss. With gnana - knowledge and dhyana - meditation, awareness and practice, suffering itself can be the door that leads you to Nithyananda, eternal bliss.
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This excerpt has been taken from the book: Uncommon Answers to Common Questions
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