The Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev explains in one speech that, the human mind is one of life’s greatest miracles — a magnificent circus of creativity, intelligence, and imagination.
Yet for most of us, it feels more like chaos than harmony.
What was designed to liberate us has somehow become our greatest source of confusion and suffering.
The reason lies in one powerful word: identification.
The Hidden Trap of Identification
From childhood, we start attaching ourselves to countless labels — our name, body, gender, nationality, religion, family, opinions, and achievements.
Each identification adds another layer to our personality, but also clouds our clarity.
The mind, like a sharp knife, is meant to discriminate — to see things as they are.
But once it becomes identified with what it perceives, it gathers residue and loses its sharpness.
We stop seeing life clearly and begin to interpret everything through the filters of belief and emotion.
A Lesson from Birbal’s Wisdom
Sadhguru often uses stories to reveal deep truths.
In one tale, Emperor Akbar’s foster brother demanded that Birbal be sent to serve him. Clever as always, Birbal sent a bull instead, claiming it was his “brother” since both drank milk from their mother.
The story humorously exposes the absurdity of our identifications.
Just as Birbal used logic to show the illusion of brotherhood, we too must see that our sense of “me” and “mine” is merely a mental construct.
Once we recognize this, the mind begins to lose its power to entangle us.
The Monkey Mind: Why Control Doesn’t Work
Another story tells of a man seeking supernatural powers.
A monk gave him three mantras and a condition: he must chant them without thinking of monkeys.
Of course, the moment he began, his mind was flooded with images of monkeys. No matter how hard he resisted, they kept multiplying!
This simple story reveals a profound truth:
There is no subtraction in the mind — only addition and multiplication.
Whatever you resist becomes stronger. Telling yourself “I won’t think about this” ensures that’s all you will think about. Suppression doesn’t bring peace; understanding does.
The Illusion of Control
Many people try to “control” the mind or force it into silence through effort. But the mind does not respond to control — it rebels. True silence cannot be achieved through suppression.
I am Sunil Kumar, I am fond of mindful wisdom, spiritual practices, and positive living insights for today’s busy world. I am passionate about helping people discover peace and clarity, blends timeless teachings with practical advice that readers can apply in their daily lives.
Through mu writings, I inspire individuals to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters—inner calm, compassionate relationships, and a purposeful way of living. My work is rooted in the belief that every new day is an opportunity to cultivate mindfulness, nurture kindness, and build a more peaceful world.