The Bhagavad Gita on the Mind

Short Answer

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate—controlling it is as difficult as controlling the wind (6.34). But it can be controlled through practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya) (6.35). The mind is the cause of bondage and liberation. When attached to sense objects, it binds you to samsara. When turned inward and controlled, it leads to liberation. The mind is like a lake. When agitated by waves of desire and attachment, the bottom (the Self) is hidden. When still, the Self shines. The Gita teaches that you are not the mind. You are the witness of the mind. The mind is an instrument. The Self is the master. Do not identify with the mind. Control it. Use it. But know that you are not it.

In one line: The restless mind can be controlled by practice and dispassion—you are not the mind; you are its witness.

Key points:

• The mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate—controlling it is difficult (6.34)
• But it can be controlled through practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya) (6.35)
• The mind is the cause of bondage and liberation—attached, it binds; controlled, it liberates
• You are not the mind; you are the witness of the mind (Chapter 13)
• The mind is like a lake; when still, the Self shines
• Practice (abhyasa) is repeated effort to still the mind; dispassion (vairagya) is detachment from sense objects

For a complete understanding of the Gita’s teaching on the mind, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Bhagavad Gita: Insights from Adi Shankaracharya provides the non-dual interpretation, while her Find Inner Peace Now offers practical techniques for mind control.

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Part 1: The Nature of the Mind

Restless and Turbulent

Krishna describes the mind in Gita 6.34:

“Cancalam hi manah krsna, pramathi balavad drdham. Tasyaham nigraham manye, vayor iva suduskaram.”

Translation: “The mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate, O Krishna. Controlling it seems as difficult as controlling the wind.”

Quality	Meaning
Restless (cancalam)	Constantly moving, never still
Turbulent (pramathi)	Agitated, disturbing
Strong (bala-vat)	Powerful, hard to overcome
Obstinate (drdham)	Stubborn, resists control

“The mind is like a drunken monkey stung by a scorpion. It jumps from thought to thought, desire to desire, fear to fear. It never rests. It never stays. Controlling it is difficult—but not impossible.”

The Mind as Enemy and Friend

The Gita teaches that the mind is both the cause of bondage and the means of liberation.

Mind as Enemy	Mind as Friend
Attached to sense objects (2.62-63)	Disciplined, controlled (6.26)
Follows desires	Follows the Self
Leads to bondage	Leads to liberation
The cause of suffering	The instrument of freedom

“For one who has controlled the mind, the mind is the best friend. For one who has not controlled the mind, the mind is the greatest enemy” (6.6).

For a deeper exploration of the nature of the mind, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Bhagavad Gita: Insights from Adi Shankaracharya explains Gita 6.34 in context.

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Part 2: How the Mind Binds

The Chain of Attachment

Krishna describes how the mind becomes bound through contact with sense objects (Gita 2.62-63):

Step	Process
1	Dwelling on sense objects
2	Attachment arises
3	Desire arises
4	Anger arises from unfulfilled desire
5	Delusion (loss of discrimination)
6	Confusion of memory
7	Destruction of intellect
8	Ruin (bondage)

“The chain of bondage begins with a thought. You dwell on a sense object. You become attached. You desire. You become angry when the desire is not fulfilled. Anger destroys your discrimination. You lose your way. This is how the mind binds.”

The Senses Draw the Mind Outward

The senses pull the mind outward, away from the Self.

Sense	Pulls the Mind Toward
Eye	Forms, colors, visual stimulation
Ear	Sounds, music, speech
Tongue	Tastes, flavors
Nose	Smells, fragrances
Skin	Touch, sensations

“The senses are like horses pulling the chariot of the mind. If the charioteer (intellect) is weak, the horses run wild. The mind is dragged into the world of objects. This is bondage.”

For a complete guide to how the mind binds, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Bhagavad Gita: Insights from Adi Shankaracharya explains the stages of attachment.

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Part 3: How to Control the Mind

Practice (Abhyasa) and Dispassion (Vairagya)

Krishna gives the remedy for the restless mind in Gita 6.35:

“Asamsayat maha-baho, mano durnigraham calam. Abhyasena tu kaunteya, vairagyena ca grhyate.”

Translation: “Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed, the mind is difficult to control and restless. But by practice, O son of Kunti, and by dispassion, it can be controlled.”

Method	Meaning
Practice (Abhyasa)	Repeated effort to still the mind, to bring it back to the Self
Dispassion (Vairagya)	Detachment from sense objects, non-attachment to results

“Practice without dispassion is like trying to fill a pot with holes. Dispassion without practice is like knowing the path but not walking it. Both are needed. Practice and dispassion. Together. Daily. Until the mind is still.”

What Practice Means

Practice is not occasional effort. It is consistent, repeated, daily.

Wrong View of Practice	Right View of Practice
“I will practice when I feel like it”	Daily practice, regardless of feeling
“I will practice for hours once a week”	Short practice, but daily
“I will practice until the mind is still”	Practice is the process, not the goal
“I will practice only in meditation”	Practice throughout the day

“Even a little practice protects one from great fear. But the practice must be consistent. Daily. Not occasional. The mind is trained like a wild animal. Gentle, persistent, daily repetition. This is abhyasa.”

For a complete guide to abhyasa and vairagya, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Find Inner Peace Now offers daily practices for mind control.

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Part 4: The Mind in Meditation (Dhyana)

The Still Lake

The Gita describes the meditative mind in Chapter 6. When the mind is still, the Self is revealed.

Agitated Mind	Still Mind
Waves of desire, anger, greed	Calm, clear, peaceful
The bottom (Self) is hidden	The bottom (Self) is visible
The mind identifies with thoughts	The mind rests in the Self
Suffering	Peace

“As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, so the mind of the yogi remains steady in meditation on the Self” (6.19).

The Practice of Meditation

The Gita teaches the practical steps of meditation (Chapter 6).

Step	Instruction
1	Sit in a clean place, steady posture (6.11)
2	Hold the body, head, and neck straight (6.13)
3	Fix the gaze on the tip of the nose (or close eyes) (6.13)
4	Focus the mind on the Self (6.14)
5	When the mind wanders, bring it back (6.26)
6	Continue until the mind is still

“Wherever the mind wanders, restless and unsteady, bring it back. Bring it back to the Self. Again and again. This is meditation. This is practice.”

For a complete guide to meditation, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Find Inner Peace Now provides step-by-step instructions.

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Part 5: You Are Not the Mind

The Witness (Sakshi)

The Gita teaches that you are not the mind. You are the witness of the mind.

The Mind (Not You)	You (The Self)
Thinks	Witnesses thinking
Desires	Witnesses desire
Feels	Witnesses feeling
Changes	Never changes
Can be controlled	Is the controller

“The Self is the witness. It sees the mind’s activity. It is not the activity. The mind is the field. The Self is the knower of the field” (13.1-2).

The Field and the Knower

In Chapter 13, Krishna explains the distinction between the body-mind (the field) and the Self (the knower of the field).

Field (Kshetra)	Knower of the Field (Kshetrajna)
The body	The Self
The mind	The witness of the mind
The intellect	The awareness behind the intellect
The ego	The true “I”
Changes, suffers	Never changes, never suffers

“You are not the field. You are the knower of the field. The field is the body-mind. The knower is the Self. Do not identify with the field. Know the knower. Be free.”

For a deeper exploration of the witness, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s Awakening Through Vedanta explains the distinction between the Self and the mind.

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Part 6: The Mind as Instrument

Use the Mind; Do Not Be Used by It

The mind is an instrument. The Self is the user. The mind does not need to be destroyed. It needs to be controlled and used properly.

Mind as Master	Mind as Instrument
You are controlled by thoughts	You control the mind
The mind decides	You decide
You are pulled by desires	You use the mind to discriminate
Bondage	Freedom

“The mind is like a knife. A knife can cut. A knife can wound. It is not the knife’s fault. It is the user’s skill. Train the mind. Use it. Do not let it use you.”

The Mind After Liberation

The Gita teaches that after liberation, the mind continues to function—but without ego.

Before Liberation	After Liberation
“I am the mind”	“The mind appears in me”
The ego claims thoughts	Thoughts arise; no one claims them
The mind binds	The mind is an instrument
Suffering	Peace

“The jivanmukta (liberated while living) has a mind. Thoughts arise. Memories surface. But there is no ‘I’ at the center. The mind is used. It is not identified with. This is freedom.”

For a complete guide to the mind after liberation, Dr. Surabhi Solanki’s How to Attain Moksha in Hinduism explains the state of the jivanmukta.

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Part 7: Common Questions

Is controlling the mind really as difficult as controlling the wind?
Yes, Krishna says it is difficult—but not impossible. With practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya), the mind can be controlled. The difficulty is not a reason to give up. It is a reason to practice persistently.

What is the difference between practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya)?
Practice is the repeated effort to still the mind. Dispassion is the detachment from sense objects that fuels the mind’s restlessness. Both are needed. Practice without dispassion is like trying to calm a fire by adding fuel. Dispassion without practice is like knowing the theory but never applying it.

Does the Gita teach that the mind should be destroyed?
No. The mind is an instrument. It should be controlled, not destroyed. You cannot function without a mind. The goal is to use the mind without being enslaved by it.

What is the role of the intellect (buddhi) in controlling the mind?
The intellect is the charioteer. It must be stronger than the mind (the horses). The intellect discriminates between real and unreal, beneficial and harmful. It guides the mind away from attachment and toward the Self.

Can a beginner control the mind?
Controlling the mind is a gradual process. A beginner may not succeed immediately. But even a little practice protects one from great fear (2.40). Begin. Practice daily. The mind will calm over time.

What is the single most important verse about the mind in the Gita?
Gita 6.35: “The mind is difficult to control, but by practice and dispassion, it can be controlled.” This verse gives both the diagnosis (the mind is restless) and the remedy (practice and dispassion). Remember it. Practice it. Control the mind. Be free.

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Summary

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate—controlling it is as difficult as controlling the wind (6.34). But it can be controlled through practice (abhyasa) and dispassion (vairagya) (6.35). The mind is the cause of bondage and liberation. When attached to sense objects, it binds you to samsara. When turned inward and controlled, it leads to liberation. The chain of bondage begins with dwelling on sense objects, leading to attachment, desire, anger, delusion, confusion of memory, destruction of intellect, and ruin. The remedy is practice—daily, consistent effort to still the mind—and dispassion—detachment from sense objects. In meditation, the mind becomes like a lamp in a windless place, steady and still. Then the Self shines. You are not the mind. You are the witness of the mind. The mind is the field. The Self is the knower of the field (Chapter 13). The mind is an instrument. Use it. Do not be used by it. For one who has controlled the mind, the mind is the best friend. For one who has not controlled the mind, the mind is the greatest enemy (6.6). Practice daily. Cultivate dispassion. Control the mind. Be free.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.