Baba Hari Dass: Mind

Baba Hari Dass was master yogi, author, builder, commentator of Indian spiritual tradition. Explore interesting quotes on mind.
Baba Hari Dass: 144 quotes4 likes

“When happiness moves beyond the mind, that is happiness”

Baba Hari Dass

Miscellaneous
Context: Q: How are peace and happiness related? Is peace the only real happiness? A: When happiness moves beyond the mind, that is happiness. (March 26, 2016)

“Using siddhis (powers) is not good for those who possess them. It can also trap the mind into desires.”

Baba Hari Dass

The Yellow Book, 1974
Context: Using siddhis (powers) is not good for those who possess them. It can also trap the mind into desires. By being pure in mind siddhis will come by itself, and a yogi should not try to show his powers. First thing is to have siddhis and then not to get trapped in siddhis. (p.42)

“The mind is the main instrument to gain enlightenment, but enlightenment is only reached when the mind stops. Q: How can we stop the mind? A: Not hitting it with a hammer. Stop the mind by the mind”

Baba Hari Dass

Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass, 1977
Context: Q: Can intellect aid understanding? A: It helps in the beginning but cannot give full enlightenment. The mind is the main instrument to gain enlightenment, but enlightenment is only reached when the mind stops. Q: How can we stop the mind? A: Not hitting it with a hammer. Stop the mind by the mind. (p.31)

“The ego rules the mind because it links the “I” with the mind and body”

Baba Hari Dass

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book II, 2008
Context: The ego rules the mind because it links the “I” with the mind and body. If the “I,” which is another name for the self, were not identified with the mind and body, the ego would have no power. Self-study [svadhyaya], therefore, is the set of practices that investigates the nature of the self to discover its origin. When the origin is found to be separate from the body, the ego loses the battle and peace is attain. (Bk. II, Sutra 1, p.5)

“The ego has no form and no particular center of existence. It pervades the mind, intellect, senses, and the body as 'I am.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: The Path to Enlightenment is not a Highway, 1996, p.65

“Life in the world functions by ego, attachment and desire, which gives the rise to the idea of “likes” and “dislikes”. In this way the mind starts identifying all experiences in the world in terms of opposites, such as pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat”

Baba Hari Dass

Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Ch. I-VI, 2013
Context: In this verse Lord Krishna advises Arjuna how to fight the battle he is trying to avoid. Life in the world functions by ego, attachment and desire, which gives the rise to the idea of “likes” and “dislikes”. In this way the mind starts identifying all experiences in the world in terms of opposites, such as pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat... Here, Sri Krishna is saying that if Arjuna has neither desire for heaven nor for sovereignty over the earth, then he should achieve equanimity of the mind. With equanimity of the mind one can achieve success in the war of life. Without it, one cannot remain unaffected by the pairs of opposites and will be continually tossed about by the waves of egocentric likes and dislikes.

“Q: How do you define ego? A: Ego is life. To keep the body's existence is ego. It is the part of the mind which identifies a creature with the world. Ego self tells you, “This is my body,” and also tells you, “This is my Self.” It connects the two.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass, 1977, p.15

“What is mind? A heap of thoughts.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass, 1977, p.14

“Without watching ourselves we can't be aware of the tricks the mind plays. So a yogi should be alert all the time.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass, 1977, p.11

“Human birth is the highest. It is for attaining liberation. If we don't consciously try for liberation, then we are misusing our human birth. Every action, thought, and word should be spiritual. It happens only when the mind is purified by sadhana [spiritual practice].”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Everyday Peace: Letters for Life, 2000, p.34

“All sadhanas or methods are for simply tricking the mind. The trick is to not let the mind spread out in a form of thoughts.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Ashtanga Yoga Primer, 1981, p.9

“Q: What is silence? A: Silence is an austerity. You control your desire to talk. By talking, people try to impress others, which you can't do if you are in silence. In silence you have to develop tolerance. At first it is difficult to do because you separate yourself from others by not expressing yourself. But gradually the mind reduces that ego and an aspirant accepts the situation, which develops tolerance and reduces anger.”

Baba Hari Dass

165
Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass, 1977

“Q: At the time of death when the elements are changing rapidly and there is confusion and fear, what is the method to fix the mind in positivity?”

Baba Hari Dass

Miscellaneous

“Just like pure water poured in a dirty cup becomes dirty, similarly the pure ego rooted in the impure mind becomes impure ego.”

Baba Hari Dass

Ego: (p.49)
The Path to Enlightenment is not a Highway, 1996

“Ch. III: Mind - Its Functions and Its Fantasies”

Baba Hari Dass

Fire without Fuel - The Aphorisms of Baba Hari Dass, 1986

“Control of the mind can be achieved by understanding yourself, the aim and the energy which is blocking us from progressing. Between God and the Self, the blocking energy is the ego.”

Baba Hari Dass

Mount Madonna Messenger

“How are peace and happiness related? Is peace the only real happiness? When happiness moves beyond the mind, that is happiness.”

Baba Hari Dass

Mount Madonna Messenger, March 26, 2016

“How can we stop the mind? Not hitting it with a hammer. Stop the mind by the mind.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass (1977), p.31

“Can intellect aid understanding? It helps in the beginning but cannot give full enlightenment. The mind is the main instrument to gain enlightenment, but enlightenment is only reached when the mind stops.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: Silence Speaks, from the chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass (1977)

“Using siddhis (powers) is not good for those who possess them. It can also trap the mind into desires. By being pure in mind siddhis will come by itself, and a yogi should not try to show his powers. First thing is to have siddhis and then not to get trapped in siddhis.”

Baba Hari Dass

Source: The Yellow Book (1974), p.42