Acharan J Man No Aayno

Conduct: The Mirror of the Mind

"...Tera man darpan kahlaye, bhale bure saare karmon ko dekhe aur dikhaye..."

They say, "A mirror never lies." Whatever expression we bring to it, that is what the mirror reflects. When we smile, when we are filled with Ananda, our face appears radiant and joyful. When we show anger or contempt, the mirror faithfully reproduces that redness, that harshness. The expressions on our face are the products of the mind. And they are expressed through our Acharan (conduct).

According to the sage Patanjali, Achar (conduct), Vichar (thought), Aahar (diet), and Vihar (lifestyle) are the four pillars of good health. Through Sadachar (righteous conduct), one attains long life, noble character, the desired progeny inexhaustible wealth and worthiness.

यादृशी भावना यस्य सिद्धिः भवति तादृशी

Whatever feeling a person cultivates within, that is the state they come to attain. A person's Karma is the reflection of his mind. Every human being is the creator of his own destiny.

The Beauty of Acharan

There is a scene in the Shri Ramcharitmanas. In Chitrakut, Ram and Sitaji had a playful discussion: whose Charan i.e.feet are more beautiful? Finally, Lakshman — who served both — was asked to judge. To Sitaji he said, "These feet (Ram's) are the reason these feet (yours) are beautiful." And to Ram he said, "It is because of your Acharan that these feet are beautiful." In other words, it is the Acharan — the practice of "let life itself go, but not one's promise," the sacred code of the Raghu lineage — that makes Ram's feet worthy of worship.

The Power of the Mind

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita declares that the mind itself is the cause of both bondage and liberation. Through Abhyas (practice) and Vairagya (detachment), the mind can be brought under one's command. The one who has conquered the mind has conquered the world.

When a person has mastery over the mind — that is growth. When the mind has mastery over the person — that is destruction.

Consider this scenario: a person feels pain in the chest and the thought arises, "I might have a heart attack." At once, the body grows weak, and he must be taken to the hospital on a stretcher. The doctor examines him and says, "There is no heart attack — it is only gas." And that very same person walks — even runs — home on his own feet. Such is the power of the mind. Such is its reflection.

A man was once bitten by a dog. The wound healed. He returned to normal. Two years later, he learned that the dog had been rabid — and he died on the spot. During the Covid pandemic in recent years, perhaps more people suffered from the fear of the disease than from the disease itself.

Shakespeare wrote: "A good mind makes the body good. The wish to be well is itself a medicine." The mind's resolute Sankalpa (will), Vishvas (faith), concentration, industry, precision, ambition, fearlessness, good cheer, and strength of character — all these are born in the mind and find their expression through the body.

To win in the battlefield, one needs valour and bravery. To win over the mind, one needs Sanyam (restraint) and understanding.

The Mirror and the Glass

In Sanskrit, the word for mirror is "Adarsh" — which also means "ideal." The Adarsh shows a person his true form. Life is like transparent glass — you can see right through it. But when a person coats one side of the glass with the "silver of Swarth" (selfishness), the glass ceases to be glass and becomes a mirror. In a mirror backed by selfishness, one sees nothing but oneself. There is no seeing "through" — only the reflection of "I" and Ahankar (ego).

When we look in a mirror, we become aware of our Roop (appearance). When we become mindful of Acharan — the true mirror of the mind — we become aware of our Swaroop (true nature).

A mirror shows the stain — but it does not wipe it away. For that, one must make the effort oneself.

A clock shows the time — but it does not save time. For that, one must plan one's life.

Shastra reveals our mistakes — but Shastra does not correct them. For that, one must change the very purpose of one's life.

To correct one's mistakes — which is to say, to change one's conduct — that, one has to do corrections oneself.

Conduct as the Engine

Attach the engine of Acharan to the train of character, and suddenly it becomes possible for all the carriages to move — Adarsh (ideals), Atma-niyaman (self-discipline), Atma-vishvas (self-confidence), leadership, Akarshakta (magnetism), Atma-bal (inner strength), Atma-samarpan (surrender), Atma-santosh (contentment), Ananda, and delight.

Sermons Without Practice

A sermon without Acharan is worthless.

A well-known Kathakaar (storyteller) once spoke passionately from the Vyaspith about how films and television serials were causing moral decline. He spoke so vividly, so convincingly, that the audience was deeply moved. The very next week, that same Kathakaar was spotted at a video rental shop, buying cassettes. Tell me — would his sermon carry any force after that?

Before scolding or sermonising a child, who loved eating jaggery, before delivering a lecture on why the child should give up jaggery, a Sant (holy man) first gave up jaggery himself for an entire week. Only then did he counsel the child — because only then would his words have any real effect.

"My life is my message" — Gandhiji could say this with conviction, and that is why he is called Mahatma.

Updesh (teaching) demands Acharan. Prarthana (prayer) demands Prayatna (effort). Shubhechha (good wishes) demand Sahkar (cooperation). Sahanubhuti (sympathy) demands Santvana (consolation).

May this Adhik Maas grant us all such Sattvikta (purity of being)