MENTAL DIMENTION....

2. MENTAL DIMENTION:

The mind is superior to the body. It is the mind that makes the body, but not vice versa. Mind is a repository of thoughts. Negative and evil thoughts make a mind weak. Weak uncontrolled mind always succumbs to temptations, creating havoc with a person. The habit of brooding over failures gives rise to negative thoughts. Swami Vivekananda's words will certainly help us to overcome such weaknesses. He said: 'The remedy for weakness is not brooding over weakness, but thinking of strength. Teach men of the strength that is already within them.'

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There are a few fortunate souls who are lucky enough to attain success without pitfalls; the rest have to pass through the hurdles and difficulties. But the real hero is he who welcomes challenges in life and faces them with boldness and courage. Such a person crossing all the hurdles comes out successfully like a lion. The following incident took place during Swami Vivekananda's wandering days, when he was staying at Varanasi. It conveys a profound message to the whole world. One day, while returning from the Durga temple, Swamiji was chased by some monkeys. To save himself, Swamiji started running, but the monkeys ran still faster and grew increasingly aggressive. Meanwhile, an old monk who was witnessing the scene called out to him: 'Stop running. Face the brutes.' Swamiji heard his call and turned to 'face the brutes.; Then the monkeys stopped harrassing him. Swamiji drew a great lesson from this incident. He learnt that one should not run away, when faced with danger or difficulty; and instead, one must face it boldly. In his later life, addressing a gathering in New York, he said: 'That is a lesson for all life-face the terrible, face it boldly. Like the monkeys, the hardships of life fall back, when we cease to flee before them. Cowards neer with victories. We have to face fear and troubles and ignoreance, if we expect them to flee before us.

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Of late, people, especially students, have become so sensitive that a little admonition from parents for fewer marks in examination is enough to disturb their minds. Violence, crime, killing, committing suicide are the outcome of weak minds. Sri. Krishna says in the Gita that such a mind acts upon us like an enemy. He says: 'One should save oneself by oneself; one should not lower oneself. For oneself is verily one's own friend; oneself is verily one's own enemy' (6:5). The strong and disciplined mind acts like a friend, but the weak, uncontrolled, and frustrated mind acts like an enemy and leads to destruction. Here are a few observations about the strong and weak minds.

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STRONG MIND :-

1. A strong mind always remains calm even in adversities.
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2. It never succumbs to temptations, and develops tremendous courage to say 'No' to immoral thoughts and actions.
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3. It always remains free from prejudice, suspicion, and jealousy.
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4. Clarity of thinking makes it possible to take right decisions and come to right judgements.
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5. Such a mind will never indulge in wrong actions, prompted by evil emotions, such as desire, anger, greed, fear, hatred, etc., but will be always guided by serious, deep and right thinking.
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6. Positive thinking, concentration, fearlessness, adventurous nature, and self-confidence are the vital qualities of a strong mind.
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WEAK MIND :--

1. A weak mind gets irritated and loses temper over trifling matters and reacts violently.
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2. Such a mind can easily succumb to temptations, like bribery, stealing, etc.,
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3. Due to confusion, suspicion, and prejudice, it fails to take the right decision and make impartial judgements.
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4. Such a mind always compromises with and surrenders to evil forces.
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5. It cannot face challenges in life, and tries to escape from them by adopting easy and cheap methods.
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6. Such a mind always takes recourse to weeping and grumbling.
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7. Such a mind never appreciates good qualities in others.
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8. Restlessness, fear, tension, laziness, frustration, superstition, and negative thinking are the main characteristics of a weak mind.
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Even a weak and uncontrolled mind can be controlled by applying strong will power and regular training. The body needs nutritious food, so does the mind need good ideas. Thought-power is a great source for strengthening the mind. Sri Ramakrishna used to say that the mind is just like a laundered cloth; whatever colour you dip it in, it will take the same colour. Our actions are the concrete forms of our thoughts. Once we change our way of thinking and develop a habit of thinking and develop a habit to think noble and positive ideas, it will bring tremendous change in our conduct and behaviour. Swami Vivekananda has given us hope, when he said: 'Whatever you think, that you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be. If you think yourrselves weak, weak you will be.' Underestimating one's own capacity and constantly thinking in a negative way, such as, I am good for nothing, I am hopeless, I and worthless, I am a sinner, is the prime cause of our mental weakness. Tremendous power is hidden within us; positive thinking is the only way to bring it out.
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The habit of reading good, mind strengthening, and wholesome literature always provides healthy food for our mind. The selection of such reading material and the company of good people will certainly enhance our mental strength. Specially for the youth, Swami Vivekananda's literature is most inspiring, and a storehouse of all positive and constructive ideas. While explaining the impact of this literature to Romain Rolland, Rabindranath Tagore Said: "If you want to understand India, study Vivekananda; in him, everything is positive, nothing negative.'
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That was the main reason behind announcing Swami Vivekananda's birthday as the National Youth Day by the Government of India. One must cultivate the habit of studying the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and such literature is enough strength in the body we can understand, assimilate, and practise such positive ideas in our life.
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Often, evil company, vulgar and cheap novels, and movies create mental perversions, resulting in all types of psychological complexes and nervous weaknesses. Therefore, one must carefully avoid such things.
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Through the practice of regular meditation, it is quite possible to improve our mental strength. Practice of meditation helps us to overcome depression, tension, and restelessness; and it makes the mind steady by controlling negative impulses and emotions. It helps us directly by erasing the bundle of tendencies from the subconscious mind, which is the root cause of problems. These accumulated tendencies are the products of our own past thoughts and actions. Meditation helps us in replacing these negative and undesirable tendencies with positive and divine thoughts.
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So, positive thinking, the habit of reading good books, and the practice of meditation are the few means to improve our mental strength, which forms a part of our personality.
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PHYSICAL DIMENTION.

1. PHYSICAL DIMENSION:... The human body is a rare gift of God. Good health is the source of happiness and success in life. Since the body and mind are closely related to each other, ill health causes mental worries and depression, not enabling to pursue a definite goal in life. Swami Vivekananda repeatedly asserted that we must develop muscles of iron and nerves of steel. In one of his lectures, he said: 'Be strong, my young friends, that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to heaver through football than through the study of the Gita. These ar my bold words, but I have to say them, for I love you. I know where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger.' Poor health not only creates tension in the person concerned, but also disturbs the whole family. To meet the medical expenses, the whole family has to suffer from financial strain. A healthy person always keeps his mind cool in all circumstances. He performs his duties efficiently, enthusiastically, and cheerfully. The development of physical strength, which is indispensable to serve others, to protect one's self-interest, should not be abused for destroying national property. Uncontrolled physical energy many times erupts in the form of caste and communal riots, anti-social activities, violence, robbery, harrassment, etc., disturbing the peace and harmony in society. One must canalize this physical energy into constructive purpose.

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Habits play a vital role in developing physical dimension. Bad habits, such as drinking, smoking drug ediction, etc., can do great harm to the physical health, making a person weak and susceptible to chronic diseases. One must be very careful and should never fall a prey to such harmful habits. Even the company of such people who are the victims of bad habits should be shunned at all cost. The influence of bad company is very harmful to the teenagers. Their tender and immature mind can easily succumb to the temptations of bad habits. Therefore, tender and immature mind can easily succumb to the temptations of bad habbits. Therefore, parents and teachers should keep watch over them and motivate them to cultivate good habits. Developing good habits regarding food, sleep, exercise, and work is the secret of good health.

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Practice of Yogasana and breathing exercises is the most effective method to keep the body fit, but one must practise them under the guidance of competent teacher.

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In ancient India, learning in the Gurukula system, students used to spend their early days in the company of enlightened teachers. By practicing strict discipline, such as, brahmacharya, physical austerities, service to guru, study of different branches of knowledge, etc., they would attain tremendous energy within themselves. They were capable of retaining all the Vedas in their memory. The obvious reason is conservation of sensual and mental energy. Over-indulgence in sensual pleasures makes the senses bereft of vigour and strength, and unfit for higher achievements in life. Though our sages were married, they had tremendous control over their senses. By the practice of brahmacharya, one can easily transform the sexual energy into ojas, which makes the brain and the nervous system strong and brings new vigour and enthusiasm in blood. Single-pointed concentration and memory power are the results of brahmacharya.

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Swamy Vivekananda has rightly said: 'Do you see, simply by observance of strict brahmacharya (continence) all learning can be mastered in very short time. One has an unfailing memory of what one hears or knows but once. It is owing to this want of continence that everything is on brink of ruin in our country.

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So, nutritious food, regular exercise, cultivating good habits, and self-control help us to improve our health, which forms a part of personality development.

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