Burst Thirty Three (For Youth):
Eclipse – Outside and Inside
The lunar eclipse takes place on a full moon night. The orb of the moon, which is otherwise fully lighted up, is dark on this night for the earth’s shadow falls on the satellite. We have total darkness in place of the lovely moonlight (in total lunar eclipse).
Our mind is like the moon in many ways. As the moon draws (and reflects) light from the sun, our mind draws (and reflects) light from the Self (Atma). This mind of ours is a great delight to one and all, when the quality of sattva is predominant in it. This often happens with all of us and it is then truly like a full moon night. However, there are rare times when just the opposite happens. When the shadow of the self (center of selfishness in us) falls upon the mind, it is under eclipse and we lose all sight of right and wrong. Tamas, and not sattva, reigns supreme then and alas, we commit blunders under the influence of the quality of tamas.
The eclipse outside is regarded a special event by scientists. They study the situation with great care. For ages humanity has viewed the time of eclipse with care and caution. Religious people have observed special rituals and prescribed rules for categories like pregnant women during such times. Both solar and lunar eclipses are believed to be times when the houses are to be given a clean up after the event is over. People take an extra bath upon the release of the moon (or the sun) from the shadow (or obstruction).
When we realize that our mind is under siege by an undue amount of self-centeredness, we should go about the matter with extra caution. We had better lie low for a while and get into action after the mind reverts to reasonable objectivity.
On the whole, this mind of ours is such a companion of ours that wisdom lies in a constant watch over its movement and doing what is truly appropriate at a given moment. Have a mature relation with your mind. Do not either trust it fully nor walk away from it (you cannot) in desperation. Be friends with your mind and let there be a respectful distance too in the friendship.
Swami Chidananda
Monday, November 22, 2004