Conquest of Mind [Paperback]

Swami Sivananda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

Conquest of Mind presents a number of most helpful hints on the Nature of Mind,and as many on the many methods for the successful conquest of mind.By aspirants,devotees,seekers after truth,psychologists and others who are seeking peace of mind and happiness in life,this work will be found highly useful.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Founder of The Divine Life Society,Swami Sivananda Maharaj is one of the great Indian spiritual Gurus widely admired and followed all over the world.Divine Life Society has many centers in a number of countries.Many of Swmai SivanandaÂ’s Books are listed on amazon.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Divine Life Society/Rishikesh/India (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8170520606
• ISBN-13: 978-8170520603
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #890,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Throw away your learning, O basket of vanity!", May 28, 2007

By 

cvairag (Allan Hancock College) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Conquest of Mind (Paperback)

I find it remarkable that no one in the world has ever reviewed this book, among the most valuable ever written. Perhaps, because it's not read in a few sittings, or an easy subject for casual conversation. No. Control of our monkey-restless-mind is not a subject for small talk, a form of discourse in which Sivananda, one of the most exalted spirits in history, never engages. But the conquest of mind is the very root, the foundation of self discovery, self knowledge, without which we are utterly lost. According to Sivananda, the mind exercises two functions: imagination and discrimination.

'The nature of the mind is to create distinctions and differences. It separates, divides, and limits.
It is a storehouse of errors, cravings, doubts, delusions and the primordial ignorance."

The mind teams up with the senses (located in the body) to deceive and bind us to our worst inclinations. Then we have to face the music of the mistakes we inevitably make (karma). To be human is to err. One cannot deny this truth. We always, in the end, find ourselves to be wrong. These days, many do not even get that far.

"...the chief of man's enemy is within himself. It is egoism. Ego co-exists with mind. When the mind perishes, ego also perishes".

"If there is no egoism, if the mind is free from desires and likes and dislikes, you will not again enter into this world of birth and death".

"A worldly-minded person is a prey to sexual thoughts and thoughts of hatred, anger, and revenge. These two types of thoughts actually take possession of his mind. He is a slave of these two sets of thoughts. He does not know how to divert his mind and fix it on some other good, noble thought. He does not know the laws of thought. He is quite unaware of the nature and subtle workings of the mind".

"The mind is a blessing of God. Because without mind, you cannot think of God".

"The root of all evil is the sense of "I" and "mine". If you destroy the Ahamkara or egoism and conquer the foes of the senses, the Vasanas or subtle desires will vanish. Slay egoism which appears in the forms of fear, hate, envy, doubt, deception and anger. When ego perishes God reveals Himself'.