Like The Still Hub Of A Spinning Wheel

The Bhagwad Gita says, "Just as a lamp's flame remains still and unwavering in the absence of wind, so is a yogi's mind fixed on the object of meditation who is united with the Self." In other words, when senses are fully controlled and turned inwards, the mind becomes calm and still, just as the Sun is visible in a tranquil, motionless lake. But when the mind is full of desires and distractions, it is restless and shaky, like a flickering lamp in the wind. We live in a world of movement, sound, form, emotion, and ambition. The mind runs like a chariot led by untamed horses, pulled in every direction. But we need not condemn this mind; rather, understand it, still its restlessness, and transform it into a vessel of Divine awareness.


Sit quietly. Let your spine be straight, breathe gently, with your gaze turned inward. The hands rested in chinmudra or jananamudra, symbolic of the union of the individual soul with the universal truth. Let pran settle like the Ganga returning to calm after a storm.


Watch, and you will see thoughts emerge and dissolve like waves upon water. Some bring joy, others sorrow, but all pass. And yet, behind all of them, something constant remains: the Witness, Self, Atman.


In this state of inner witnessing, you are no longer entangled. You see the mind as it is a tool, not a tyrant. The senses may call you outward, but you no longer leap in response. You remain centred, like the still hub of a spinning wheel. As you inhale and exhale gently, watch the movement of your inner world. Thoughts will rise with memories, plans, and stray feelings. The mind will distract from it; it is natural and born to be in motion. Observe without judgement. Remain the witness, and slowly, your identification with the noise begins to loosen.


Life continues to test us with harsh words, insults, and sudden losses. But instead of reacting, pause. Train your mind to respond not from emotion, but from a place of dharm, what is right and not from impulse. Responding with calm clarity is not a weakness; it is a strength. Like a skilled archer who waits for the wind to still before releasing the arrow, the wise wait for their mind to settle before taking action. Let emotions rise, but don't be swept away. Watch them, and then choose your response not from ego or hurt, but from your more profound sense of what is right, your dharm.


The Gita says, "Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phalesu kadachana", you have the right to perform your duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Focus on the action itself rather than the outcome, not becoming attached to results. This is the essence of Karm yog , action born from clarity, not compulsion. The wise one does not seek to escape the world but to elevate it through mindful presence. Silence is not withdrawal, but alignment. Detachment is not denial, but purity of intention. The soul is not void, but a spark of Brahmn, infinite and complete.


Practice quieting the mind each day through meditation, not just in silence, but also in the midst of the world's bustle. Whether speaking to a friend, facing criticism, or choosing your daily duties, remain rooted. This is abhyas, practice, combined with vairagya, detachment, twin wings of yog.


Authored by: Vijay Hashia