Madhav & Friends: Bhagavad Geetā through everyday stories | Chapter 1 : Control the Mind

 Madhav & Friends: Bhagavad Geetā through everyday stories

Chapter 1

Control the Mind

Madhav loved music. He used to play key board in his college band. The band would perform various covers of popular songs. They enjoyed recreating the covers of popular Tamil songs. His band members really liked his musical suggestions. He would many times give a very creative twist to original songs making them more melodious.

Sudarshan was the drum player in the band and he gelled really well with Madhav. Radhika was the female vocalist while Varun was the male vocalist in the band. This 4 member band was really popular in their college - Rameshwaram Institute of Technology, a premier engineering college in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

Madhav, Sudarshan, Radhika and Varun were final year students of engineering. They had been together since last 3 years and had formed a strong bond due to their common music interests. Their principal had asked them to perform on the Republic Day event in college. They were really excited about this performance, more so because this would most likely be their last performance in the institute.

They had planned to play around 3 songs. They chose all patriotic songs, which included the National Anthem of India, Vande Mataram, and Thamizha Thamizha (from the popular movie Roja). Madhav had already given his creative twist to the songs. The band was excited to perform for this event. They would usually practice at Varun’s house. 

Varun was from a wealthy family. His father was a businessman and had built a big house in Trichi. His father would mostly be travelling on business, while Varun’s mother used to take care of the children and the home. Varun had a separate room in their big house. For some members in the band, the size of Varun’s room was as big as their house.

Madhav came from a simple family. His father was working in a private company and mother was a homemaker. Radhika and Madhav were neighbours. While Sudarshan stayed a bit far. His family was struggling to make ends meet.

2 days before the Republic Day performance the four friends had gathered at Varun’s house for their rehearsal.

Radhika said, “We have to rock this performance. This is going to be our last in this institute, and I wish that everyone not just likes our performance but remembers us for years to come”

Sudarshan added, “Yes, I am so excited about this performance. I don’t know when I will get to play drums again once we pass out from the institute.” Sudarshan’s face turned dull after saying this. 

Madhav put his arm around Sudarshan and said, “Don’t worry Sudarshan, this may be our last performance in this institute, but I am sure with the talent you have, this will not be your last performance as a drummer”. This put a smile on Sudarshan’s face.

Varun was busy practising his lines, when Madhav interrupted him, “Varun I think we should let Sudarshan give a closing to our performance with his solo drum act”

Varun, looked at Madhav and nodded in agreement while still trying to practice his song.

Soon, the day arrived when the band was going to perform at the Republic Day event. The principal of the Institute was a very respected man and also well connected. He had invited the Collector of Trichi Mr. Srinivas, to grace the function with his presence.

Varun knew the collector well as his father was known to him. Varun went and greeted Mr Srinivas as he entered the auditorium. The auditorium was decorated with Tri-colours of Indian Flag. The first 2 rows were reserved for Chief Guest and the senior staff members of the Institute.

Soon after the welcome address and lamp lighting, the guests and other students had settled down in the auditorium. The auditorium was full, as the students knew that the band is going to perform, probably for the last time. Everyone wanted to cheer the musical stars as they performed.

Announcement was made about the band and they were invited on the stage for their performance. As the four performers walked on to the stage the crowd cheered heartily. All of them were dressed in traditional Indian dress. They were dressed in white Kurta and Radhika had taken the tricolour Odhani over the kurta. All the male members sported a tricolour pagdi. Sudarshan took his seat and tested his drums. Madhav checked for his keyboard audio. Varun & Radhika tested their vocals and mics.

Varun and Radhika, now welcomed everyone and greeted the chief guest and thanked him for gracing the event. They then proceeded to start their performance. The first was National Anthem. Everyone stood in respect of the National Anthem. The vocals of Varun and Radhika touched the hearts of everyone, filling them with pride for the country. As soon as the National Anthem concluded the crowd gave a thundering applause to the performers for a good 2 minutes. This was accompanied with loud chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” & “Vande Mataram”

This infused more enthusiasm among the 4 band members. They were now ready to perform their second song. They started the second song, and few minutes into the performance, suddenly the mics for the singers stopped working. Varun and Radhika both looked puzzled at each other. Sudarshan, paused as he was shocked at this mishap. Madhav however, wasn’t fazed. After a brief pause of couple of seconds, he immediately started playing the tune of the song on his keyboard. The crowd gave loud cheer to Madhav for not letting the performance stop. Seeing him, Sudarshan too continued playing the drums. Within few seconds the technical glitch was resolved and the mics started working again. Varun & Radhika started singing along.

The band then played the third and final song and this was the one where Madhav had given it a creative twist. The crowd was very excited to listen to this new version of the popular song. The cheering and applause continued for 2-3 minutes after the performance ended. And then it followed with an encore for the band asking for a repeat performance of the third song.

However time was of essence as there were other activities lined up for the event and the host continued with the rest of the program. Backstage the 4 members sighed a relief for the glitch that had momentarily put the performance on pause. Varun, thanked Madhav for keeping his cool and continuing with the performance. Sudarshan, hugged Madhav and thanked him for saving the day. Radhika shook Madhav’s hand and thanked him for his grace saving gesture.

The day went well and everyone returned to their home. Next day at the institute, everyone was all praises for the 4 of them and were complementing them for their performance. Kushal one of their classmate came and congratulated them for their performance, and then turning to Madhav he said, “Had Madhav not continued his playing, the performance could have got interrupted and probably wouldn’t have been so good. Actually it felt like that’s how the song was planned to be performed” All 4 of them were now thinking that this could have ended badly too. 

The 4 friends went to canteen and ordered some snacks and cold drinks for themselves. After sometime Varun said, “Madhav, thanks for the saving grace. I got really nervous when the mic stopped performing. But you used your presence of mind and saved the day for us. How did you manage to keep so cool in that situation”

Sudarshan added, “Yes, Madhav I was totally shocked, when the mics stopped working. But then you continued to play. How did you manage to stay so calm”

Radhika had the same questions but was just looking at Madhav with a puzzled expression.

Madhav just smiled and said “I usually keep calm and try not to panic in any adverse situation.”

Radhika interrupted, “But how do you do that? How do you not get affected by the adverse situation”

Madhav smiled and said, “This is what I have learnt through practice”

“Practice? Of what?” Sudarshan asked.

“I read Bhagavad Geetā. In that Lord Krishna says that the one who controls his mind, remains peaceful and happy”

Varun was slightly confused. He was not too devoted or religious. He asked, “But how did you control your mind? Do you practice yoga or meditation? I thought you are not so religious”

Madhav smiled and said, “You don’t have to be religious to learn to control the mind. But yes my inspiration has been Bhagavad Geetā.”

“I have been trying to implement the many learnings of the Bhagavad Geetā into my daily life. And controlling mind has been one which has helped me stay calm and focussed in every situation. I try not to get fazed when there is trouble nor do I get too excited when things are favourable” Madhav added.

A puzzled Radhika asked, “But how do you control mind Madhav? It sounds very tough?”

“It isn’t that tough actually. What is important is to be aware of who we are and what our relationship with this world is.” replied Madhav.

Sudarshan was even more confused now, “Who we are? Aren’t we Human Beings? What relation are you talking about Madhav?”

Madhav put his hand on Sudarshan’s shoulder and said, “Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Geetā that we are souls and not this body. This body will perish but the Soul is indestructible. A soul does not experience any of the emotions or feelings. It is our body which experiences all this through the 5 senses. Mind orders the senses to please it, but the intellect is superior to the mind. And us souls are superior than the intellect. As we understand this hierarchy, it becomes easy to detach ourselves (the soul) from the material attachments, and emotions.”

“Wait a minute. This sounds too superficial. How do we differentiate between our senses, body, mind and intellect? Aren’t all this us only?” enquired Varun.

“They belong to us, but we are not these. We are souls” replied Madhav.

“Ok. Fine. But then still, how do you control the mind?” asked Radhika.

Madhav turned to Radhika and said, “Every time I am faced with any adverse situation, I remind myself in my mind that I am the soul and not the body. These feelings do not belong to me. They belong to this body and the mind. After saying this in my mind for few times, I am able to calm myself and look at the situation neutrally”

Sudarshan asked in a puzzled tone, “Is it that simple? Just talk to yourself and tell that you are not this body?”

Madhav replied, “It is not! But with practice, you will be able to learn to detach this way”

“But the most important thing is to first be aware of who we are” added Madhav

“We are souls” said Sudarshan in an unconvinced tone rolling his eyes.

Varun was still deciphering what he was listening too. He was making some hand gestures as if talking to himself trying to make sense of what Madhav was saying. Accidentally, he hit the bottle of cold drink that was kept on the table and the cold drink spilled over on his bag which was kept there.

Varun shrieked and immediately tried to pick up his bag to avoid it from getting wet. But instead he accidentally pushed the table and the other bottles on the table also started shaking. Sudarshan, Radhika & Varun were now literally screaming with nervousness for the mess that was about to get created. But again Madhav just calmly held the table and the bottles and avoided any more spill.

Sudarshan and Radhika sighed in relief at the mess that was avoided.

Varun looked at Madhav and he seemed calm and smiling. Varun knew that what Madhav was saying was not just some theory he read somewhere, but it is something that he has been practising for sometime and that’s why he was able to deal with different situations in a calm manner.

Varun now asked Madhav, “Since when have you been practising this detachment”

Madhav said, “I have been doing this for more than a year now. But it is never too late to start.”

“And in this 1 year you have learnt to detach from your emotions and feelings?” asked Varun

“It isn’t that easy. We are humans after all and so the feelings and emotions are natural for us. Even today I get the emotions and feelings. But with this practice, I have learnt to not get attached to them. Which helps me overcome these emotions and feelings and move on. It does not bind me down” replied Madhav

Varun now looked a bit convinced with what Madhav just said. Radhika too seemed like she was getting the essence of what Madhav was saying.

Sudarshan still seemed to be confused. Just then Sudarshan’s phone rang. It was his mother. She called to inform that his father had met with an accident at the factory and the company officials had taken him to a hospital. Sudarshan was visibly panicking. Madhav put his arm around Sudarshan’s shoulder and tried to pacify him. Sudarshan cut the call and looked at Madhav with wet eyes. He narrated to them what had just transpired with his father. They all immediately left for the hospital. Varun had brought his car and so they rushed to the hospital in his car.

At the hospital, Sudarshan met his mother who was already crying. Doctor arrived there and Madhav enquired about Sudarshan’s father’s health. Doctor said that he is fine now but needs to be kept in observation for 2 days. Sudarshan while seemed a bit relieved was still visibly nervous.

After some time, Madhav sat next to Sudarshan and asked, “Are you ok?”

Sudarshan nodded suggesting he was fine. Madhav put his arm around Sudarshan to comfort him. Varun and Radhika were standing right next to them.

Sudarshan now appeared calm. He turned to Madhav and said, “I tried what you had told some time ago when we were chatting in the college. I tried reminding myself that I am soul and not this body. And this grief is not mine, it belongs to this body as this relationship is with the body not with the soul. I kept saying this in my mind continuously. And after saying it for about 15-20 times, I realised I was feeling calm. The nervousness was slowly reducing.”

Varun & Radhika listened with surprise.

Madhav, smiled and said, “I am glad that you were able to practice what I said and experience the benefits. I am sure it will help you handle the situations much better. And right now remember that you need to take care of not just yourself but your mother and your father too.”

Sudarshan nodded in agreement. He got up and went to his mom and tried to comfort her.

Varun and Radhika looked at Madhav surprised. Madhav said, “It is not easy, but with practice anyone can learn to control mind. Because, remember who we are.”