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Give yourself a beautiful song to sing || Acharya Prashant, on Nitnem Sahib (2019)
Scriptures and Saints
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2 years ago
Mind
Truth
Remembrance
Kabir Saheb
Bulleh Shah
Saints
Consciousness
Discipline
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding the mind's tendency to loop on random, catchy tunes or trivial thoughts instead of the Truth. He explains that the mind is inherently hungry and desperate for something to latch onto; it seeks something musical or pleasant to be with. If it is not provided with something of high quality, it will inevitably clutch onto whatever is available, such as crude or common songs. This tendency is a reflection of the mind's need for companionship, and if one does not consciously choose the right content, the mind falls prey to whatever is being served by the external world. The speaker emphasizes that the solution is to provide the mind with something truly wonderful and musical, such as the words of saints like Kabir Saheb and Baba Bulleh Shah. He notes that while popular, catchy music is designed to be infectious and easily attracts the mind by exploiting its weaknesses, the words of the mystics require discipline and effort to learn. If one does not cultivate a love for the songs of the saints, the punishment is that the mind remains at a lowly level of consciousness, even during sacred festivals. He concludes that the only real solution is to keep the right company and be with the saints, as their songs are gifts that can occupy the mind continuously in a meaningful way.