Talks with Sri Ramana
Talk
213
30
June 1936
Mr. B.C. Das
asked why the mind cannot be turned inward in spite of repeated attempts.
Maharshi:
It is done by practice and dispassion and that succeeds only gradually. The mind,
having been so long a cow accustomed to graze stealthily on others’ estates, is
not easily confined to the stall. However much her keeper tempts her with
luscious grass and fine fodder, she refuses the first time; then she takes a bit; but her innate tendency to stray
away asserts itself; and she slips away; on being repeatedly tempted by the
owners, she accustoms herself to the stall; finally even if let loose she would
not stray away. Similarly with the mind; If once it finds its inner happiness,
it will not wander outward.
