To stay noisy, turbulent is the nature of the mind. By no means can it be quietened. However, there surely is a way to become free from the mind, transcend the mind, and be in the state of no-mind. Therefore, the only meaning of a quiet mind is the absence of mind.

There is no relationship between silence and mind. As long as there is mind, there cannot be quietude and where there is silence, there is no mind. The basic purpose of all spiritual practices is to dissolve the mind, to be free from the mind, to transcend the mind.

Just as, to cure a disease, you must understand it well. Treatment without right diagnosis can aggravate the disease or even invite other diseases. In the same way, understand the mind well, or you may end up either suppressing it or making it numb.

Erroneous Ways of Quietening the Mind

You know how to suppress emotions. Anger comes and you repress it thinking it is not wise to show anger right now. You also know how to suppress passions and desires because every time it is not possible to fulfil them.

The more you suppress, the more hideous the mind becomes. You create a volcano within. Whenever it erupts, it will create a disaster. Hence, though it seems that suppression makes the mind quiet, it actually becomes the creator of terrible unrest. Suppression can save you from committing a sin at that moment but it may make you sin in future. Energy suppressed could blast and shatter you one day. Therefore, the path of suppression is not the path of freedom from the mind.

Similarly, benumbing the mind is not the way to peace. Making the mind unconscious of the pain may temporarily make you forget your suffering, but pills, alcohol etc. cannot cure it. The moment the mind comes back to consciousness, the suffering will rise again to harass. It can create physical illness too.

Thus, suppression makes the mind restless and benumbing makes the mind insensitive but they cannot make you free from the mind. Mind is a constant flow of thoughts. As long as it exists, you cannot be at peace. Each thought is capable of disturbing you.

Is Witnessing an Act of the Mind?

Witnessing is not the act of the mind. In meditation, in witnessing, the Self acts in accordance with its nature and so it is not an effort, rather, it is effortlessness. Meditation or witnessing happens without the help of mind, speech or body and so it is non-action. This needs to be understood well.

Due to the limitations of language, many non-actions are considered as actions. Like, taking birth is an activity, yet there is no effort of the child in it. In the same way, dying, sleeping, are not activities, even though in language, they are referred to as activities.

You say, ‘I slept at night’. But when asked, ‘How did you go to sleep? What was the process of sleep?’ it will be difficult for you to answer. You may have slept for a long time and yet you cannot describe the process of sleep. You may be able to describe in detail what you did before going to sleep, like making the bed, turning the lights off, switching on the fan. They may help in going to sleep but they are not sleep, nor do they ensure that you will get sleep because of them.

You cannot bring sleep, so sleep is not an action. You may prepare for a good sleep but can’t make it happen. It is easy to sleep in darkness and difficult in a bright room. Yet sleep comes without any doing.

A child takes his thumb in his mouth and goes to sleep. When the thumb is pulled out, it is difficult for him to sleep. An association is built that the moment his thumb goes in his mouth, he is ready for sleep. It is a mere signal that soon he will be asleep. Likewise, bed, darkness, fan etc. are only signals.

Meditation or witnessing when said to be effortless, it means that whatever is done for meditation is all external. It facilitates meditation. The efforts are mere superficial endeavours, not meditation. Meditation is a relaxed state of being, a state of effortlessness, just a happening and not doing. And so like sleep, it has no definite technique.

Remove the Obstacles

Understanding three basic principles regarding sleep should help remove all confusion about meditation. Sleep cannot be created, sleep comes and efforts are also made for sleep. There are preparations made for sleep but they are not the direct cause of sleep. One has to silently wait for sleep to come! Sleep when it comes, comes on its own and cannot be brought. All preparations like making bed etc. are only to facilitate sleep, to remove obstacles to sleep and nothing more than that.

The same applies for meditation or witnessing. The techniques of meditation and all its preparations are taught or made to practice so that the mind does not become a hindrance. Hence, to meditate is to remove all that hinders meditation and then silently wait for meditation to happen. Meditation is a natural activity of the Self. Doership is the obstacle to it. Meditation occurs when doership dissolves.

The sun dawns in the morning and you are sitting in the room with doors closed. Now, you ask, what should be done to get the sun inside the room? Can you bring the sunshine in a basket? Can you pull it in by the elephants? Or may be with someone’s help? The Wise Ones say that you need not do anything to bring the sunlight inside the room. All you have to do is remove the obstacle to it. Open the doors. This is the only method. The sunlight will enter on its own. Even though you may say you brought the sunlight inside the room, it would be a lie. All you did was open the doors. It’s the sun that brings in the sunlight and not you.

Meditation Happens on its Own

This means that you cannot do meditation but can surely stop it happening! To do meditation is to give up all efforts that obstruct meditation. Meditation does not require efforts. It happens naturally when you become choiceless and effortless. To meditate is like opening the doors, and the sunlight naturally floods. And so, when meditation happens, you shall not claim its doership.

You prepare a room conducive to get a good sleep. However, sleep may occur without any preparation too. Like, a person can go off to sleep on a sunny, noisy, hot day; laying his head on a stone. But the condition is he must be exhausted. In the same way, when you are completely tired of the play of mind, you let go of the mind and meditation occurs. Then you do not need a conducive environment or technique. However, without being tired, you will need both, a correct setting and a right method as preparation, yet they are not meditation. For meditation cannot be done, it occurs on its own.

Do you often find yourself struggling with negative emotions? Do you wonder about the true meaning of emotional baggage and how to effectively deal with it? In this enlightening discourse, profound wisdom is shared on how to deal with emotional breakdown and take control of your emotional well-being.

Situations may not change, but you can change your feelings by changing your thoughts. This powerful insight serves as the foundation for understanding how to deal with negative emotions. Just as a steering wheel controls the direction of wheels, our thoughts direct our feelings. To transform how we feel, we must first change our thought patterns.

Cleaning Your Mind Daily

While we clean our homes and bodies regularly, how often do we clean our minds? The importance of mental cleansing is emphasised:

You clean your house, you clean your bodies, you should also clean your minds. The place you will get your happiness from, you don’t have time to clean that place?

This daily practice of mental cleansing is essential for maintaining emotional balance. It is advised to close our emotional accounts every night without exception — even if it’s just for two minutes. This practice helps prevent emotional baggage from accumulating and weighing us down.

Opening Folders with the Right Mindset

One of the most practical teachings on how to control emotions involves what is called “opening folders.” Often, we open mental folders of past incidents when we’re angry, which only reinforces negative emotions. Instead, the advice is:

Become a little devotional, a little meditative, become calm and happy and then open the folder. You will release that.

By approaching difficult situations or conversations from a place of calmness rather than reactivity, we can process them without creating more emotional turmoil. This approach helps us deal with emotional baggage effectively rather than adding to it.

Understanding the Source of Irritation

The discourse challenges a fundamental wrong belief—that others are the cause of our irritation and hurt. The clarification is made:

Thoughts—meaning all negative thoughts, hurt, hate, everything—don’t come from situations, they come from your beliefs.

This shift in understanding is crucial for anyone wanting to know how to deal with negative emotions. When we recognise that we choose our reactions based on our beliefs rather than blaming external factors, we gain control over our emotional responses.

Building Emotional Immunity

Just as physical immunity protects us from illness, emotional immunity shields us from negative influences. It is explained that our emotional distress comes not from situations themselves but from our low emotional immunity. By strengthening this immunity through right beliefs and mindset, we can remain stable even in challenging circumstances.

Rising Above Negative Energy

The discourse concludes with a beautiful metaphor about climbing to higher floors when encountering unpleasant smells on lower levels. Similarly, when faced with negative energy from others, we should elevate our inner state rather than being influenced by it.

See that the positive energy from you influences the negative energy, be alert that the negative energy does not influence you.

This practice involves cultivating forgiveness, friendliness, and love—moving from the “second floor” to the “third floor” of consciousness. The encouragement is to learn the language of blessings and good wishes, especially toward those with whom we have difficulties.

For a more immersive experience of this transformative wisdom on how to deal with emotional breakdown, watch the complete satsang at

FAQs About Emotional Baggage

What is the meaning of emotional baggage?

Emotional baggage refers to the accumulated negative feelings and unresolved issues from past experiences that we carry with us. As explained, these emotions stem from our beliefs rather than from external situations. Understanding the true source of emotional baggage is the first step toward releasing it.

How can I deal with negative emotions effectively?

To deal with negative emotions effectively, it is recommended to change your thought patterns and beliefs. Instead of blaming others for your irritation, acknowledge that you choose your reactions. Practice “closing accounts” daily by reflecting on your emotions from a calm state of mind, and open mental “folders” only when you’re in a positive mindset.

What are some practical ways to control emotions during conflicts?

When faced with conflicts, the suggestion is to elevate your inner state—moving from anger to forgiveness, and then to friendliness and love. This helps you maintain control over your emotions rather than being influenced by negative energy. Practice sending good wishes and blessings to the person you’re in conflict with, which can transform the dynamic entirely.

How do I prevent emotional breakdown in challenging situations?

Building emotional immunity is key to preventing emotional breakdown. Just as physical immunity protects against viruses, strong emotional immunity shields you from being affected by difficult situations. This involves cultivating right beliefs, practising daily mental cleansing, and approaching challenges with a positive mindset. Remember that situations don’t cause your distress—your response to them does.