मन जहाँ भी जाय हरि को खड़ो करु तहँ प्यारे |

मनहिं ते श्रृंगार करु सब, जैसा भाए प्यारे |

Moving further, Shree Kripaluji Maharaj tells us that when we practice sadhana, and devotion, we move a few steps ahead, but we also fail at times. There are situations when thoughts about the material world are stronger, and detachment from this world becomes weaker. You may repeatedly contemplate about detachment from the material world, and try to concentrate on God, but it is difficult. It does happen that when there are bad days, how much ever you try contemplating on God, it becomes very difficult to concentrate on Him.

People get frustrated and say, “What to do? The mind is not under my control.” Shree Kripaluji Maharaj tells us not to get scared. If you scold your mind, it will react negatively. You were concentrating on God and suddenly your mind started thinking about your son. Now if you scold your mind as to why is it doing this, the mind will get more disturbed. So, first of all, be calm. Let your mind go wherever it wants to go, and then visualize the form of God in that place. If your mind started thinking about your son, visualize the form of God in your son. If your mind starts thinking about ice cream, place God in the ice cream and concentrate upon Him. If it thinks about the cricket match, imagine that God it standing in the field. So, in one way or the other, tie your mind to God.

This is just as a monkey is unsteady by nature.

ग्रह ग्रहीत पुनि बात बस तेहि पुनि बीछी मार।

तेहि पिआइअ बारुनी कहहु काह उपचार।।

At the end of the Ramayan, Tulsidasji says:

“O Lord! The mind of a monkey is very restless by nature. If you tie a scorpion to its tail, what will be the condition of that monkey! And if that monkey gets hysteria, then how restless will it be? Further, it is made to drink alcohol! Just imagine the condition of that monkey. My mind is similar to the condition of that monkey. What can I do?”

But you must have seen how the monkey trainer controls the monkey. On the first day, he ties a rope around the monkey which is 100 feet long. The monkey has to jump and play within 100 feet. The rope presses its neck. It cannot go further, else the rope will hurt his neck. The next day he reduces the rope to 80 feet. The monkey wants to go beyond, but the rope hurts his neck and hence he learns to jump within that limit. Slowly, when the rope is reduced to 3 feet by the trainer, the monkey thinks, “Leave it. Let me stay quiet and lie down right here.”

Now that energetic and restless monkey is totally under control. Our mind is similar to this monkey. You need to tie this mind with the rope of Shyamsundar. Imagine God wherever your mind goes. If your mind wishes to see the beautiful seashore of Puri (sacred place in Eastern Orissa), imagine Shree Krishna to be standing there. Shree Krishna is standing on the beach with his flute. If your mind thinks about Taj Mahal, imagine Shree Krishna standing on the marble stone. Just like the monkey, the mind will come under control. It will be bound with Shree Krishna wherever it goes. Slowly, the mind will come to rest in Shree Krishna. This is the solution.

Note that this is not just your imagination. It is a fact that God resides everywhere, and we have to realize that wherever our mind goes, God is present there. Keep practising this way and it will only happen when you practice Roop dhyan, or meditation on the form, constantly for some time. Close your eyes and imagine your personal form of God to be in front of you. To strengthen Roop dhyan in your mind, imagine that you are dressing your God. Imagine as if you are decorating Him with a beautiful necklace and offering Tulsi at His lotus feet.

So, by constantly meditating like this, your Roop dhyan will get stronger. And when that stage arrives that as soon as you close your eyes, you can see your God’s personal form in front of you, then you do not have to worry.

To attach your mind in God, it is very important that a devotee practices Roop dhyan. During devotion, wherever your mind goes in the material world, place Shree Krishna in front of you. Moreover, decorate Shree Krishna with your mind. By doing this, Roop dhyan will become more firm and deeper. And our love for God will progress in leaps and bounds.