Who is actually enjoying the benefits - mind or body?

I want to eat a dessert, I want to eat in a lavish buffet. My stomach is unwell, but I would like to explore the new restaurant opened nearby. I had worked whole week, I want to stay awake till late in the night and enjoy. All these are orders by mind or body? How to put an end to the mind which loves to control my body?

Do you know, now-a-days, reversal of diabetes is possible by living a healthy lifestyle. Now the question is again healthy lifestyle is for the body or mind or for both? So, now, who controls whom? Whatever the mind says, the body acts, it is the body which has to process with it's complex machines it has inside. 

Eat more, sleep more or sleep less, enjoy with no boundaries is what the mind says. But actually, body needs a good diet, good sleep and a scheduled lifestyle. The dilemma is, if we don't expose ourselves to the newness in the world, how do we gain experience and know new things? Well, agree, but lets understand the whole point about who enjoys the benefits? What controls what?

Followers of Islam , right from the younger one to elder person in the house, definitely, follow Ramzan month, fast from sunrise to sunset, for a whole month. So, is this possible with controlled mind? Many Sanaathana dharma followers,  fast on ekadashi, pournima and on many occasions during the year. Does this happen because of controlled mind? The followers of Lord Ayyappa, follow 41 days of particular lifestyle that has a lot of commitment and dedication. Is it possible for them because they had controlled mind? We have many live examples right in our door and next door what a controlled mind can do. Absolutely, good to our own body.

There are scientific facts about how a controlled mind can do wonders to our body. But, how and when can one have a control of the mind. There are also studies when you control the mind and the desires that arise in the mind, there are high chances of getting into depression by feeling extremely inferior due to low confidence levels. To avoid this, Krishna delivers a beautiful way. If the process is followed , we can control the mind organically with no hassle.  We will see a change in our own lives with little things which help us move forward in any situation in a balanced way. Ultimately. in the balance of mind is where our confidence is and happiness is. I had read many quotes  to boost my confidence, I read many stories to avoid getting into depression, all of these are like ointments. My inferior feeling comes back after quite a few days. 

But, Krishna's way is the only practical way, I found, to have the confidence that stays with me forever.All that I need is to act as He says.

Krishna mentioned in Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna about balance of mind in chapter 6. Lets understand the difference between balancing the mind and controlling the mind. Krishna says,

युञ्जन्नेवं सदाऽऽत्मानं योगी नियतमानसः।

शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति।।6.15।।

yuñjannēvaṅ sadā৷৷tmānaṅ yōgī niyatamānasaḥ.

śāntiṅ nirvāṇaparamāṅ matsaṅsthāmadhigacchati৷৷6.15৷৷

Meaning - Every one, who practices, regulation of mind will forever stay in peace and ultimate satisfaction

Immediately Krishna says under what situation or who all can regulate the mind

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।

न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।6.16।।

nātyaśnatastu yōgō.sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ.

na cātisvapnaśīlasya jāgratō naiva cārjuna৷৷6.16৷৷

Meaning - Arjuna, the balanced one is the one who doesn't (Atyasnatah, anasnatah ) over eat, or eat less and who doesn't (ati svapna seela, jaagrati) over sleep or sleep less.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।

युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा।।6.17।।

yuktāhāravihārasya yuktacēṣṭasya karmasu.

yuktasvapnāvabōdhasya yōgō bhavati duḥkhahā৷৷6.17৷৷

Meaning -  Yuktah - Regulate aahara - food vihaara - recreation chestasya - works karmasu - in performing actions svapnaa avabodhasya - sleep and wakefulness .....to reduce the stress or sorrows. 

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते।

निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा।।6.18।।

yadā viniyataṅ cittamātmanyēvāvatiṣṭhatē.

niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmēbhyō yukta ityucyatē tadā৷৷6.18৷৷

Meaning - When there is a particular discipline to the mind by concentrating on the self, there is no dis-satisfaction and will experience only balance of mind.

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।

योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः।।6.19।।

yathā dīpō nivātasthō nēṅgatē sōpamā smṛtā.

yōginō yatacittasya yuñjatō yōgamātmanaḥ৷৷6.19৷৷

Meaning - Exactly, like the deepa or diya doesn't waiver when placed in a windless place, the same way, the balanced one's self or mind is regulated when practising meditation or yoga. 

So, there is a lot of discipline and schedule in the fast that is observed by every religion's follower. After all, all the customs are put in practise only to realise our self and improve our balance by understanding the mind and body. 

So, what matters is not who controls whom, but it is how co-operative the self's body and mind are in everyday life. Body can stay young and enjoy the benefit when mind can be regulated. Mind can enjoy ultimate happiness when body is ever ready to perform any activity.This clarity and actions performed with such balance will definitely improve the self-confidence.

Through out the world, meditation is being followed to attain self-confidence. In India, it is part of Yoga, since times immemorial. To have a balanced life, it is important to act now as Krishna described. 

Lets explore Gita, Lets implement Krishna's words, because action completes you and brings out the real you.

----Keerthi Peratla