1) Simple Exercise to Know Thyself: Activity 1: Raise your hand and ask yourself the question: Am I the hand? What is the answer you get? Are you the hand or are you the observer, witness, knower, of the hand, which is just another ‘object’ like the table, chair, etc.? It will be easy for you to distinguish your ‘SELF’ as a “Subject”, which is aware and observes an ‘object’, the hand! So, what is this ‘SELF’ within you, that makes us ‘aware’ and a conscious living-being? Reflect on your experience of Awareness per se and your Self both as ‘Subject’ and ‘object/s’; observer & observed.

Activity 2: Close your eyes and try to perceive the flow of ‘life force’ within you. Are you able to perceive that this life force is manifesting as your breathing? You will realise that your “Self” as an observer (subject) is different from your breathing, which is not an object which can be seen, but it is so subtle that it can only be perceived (and is therefore, the “observed object!”), felt, like say gravitational or magnetic field, energy, electricity, etc.!

Activity 3: Sit quietly with eyes closed and be aware; now observe the flow of thoughts, feelings, and emotions within you. Do you perceive yourself as distinct from all of these? You will perhaps conclude that your ‘self’ as an observer is distinct from them. Explore, reflect, discover, what then, is the self? Who is the observer? In other words: Who am I?

Activity 4: Now think of Newton’s law of motion, which says that an inert body will not move unless an outside force is applied. Do you think this force comes by itself? Or is Consciousness associated with it? Can an object move without consciousness? No, as per Newton’s law, no inert object can move on its own.

Think again. Where, what is ‘Consciousness’? The answer is, it is the divinity or ‘Life’ within us, which is the source of perfection, ananda, knowledge, in us and which drives body and mind into action!

2) Self-introspection: What do I want from my life and why? What kind of person do I want to be? What are my roles and duties in family, school and society? What kind of outlets do I want for self-introspection? How can I become a better person?

3) Planning our life: Plan your daily schedule of activities. Identify priorities for the day, week, month, etc. Examine the reasons for your priorities and change as and when needed. Keep a tab on your performance on these activities. Identify and prepare a list of all your short-term and long-term goals. Prepare an action plan and chalk out steps towards the attainment of these goals. These steps should include fixing the time, date, method, etc. Take determined action towards short-term and long-term goals such as controlling anger, improving performance, enhancing qualities of will power, concentration and fearlessness, etc.

4) Reflection/Practice being ‘Aware’ & then managing our responses (not just reacting!): Stand apart and learn to be a witness to the flow of thoughts in your mind. Analyse and examine the thoughts, feelings and emotions flowing in the mind.

Gradually, develop the ability to pause, analyse, and respond rather than react. Arouse your conscience (Viveka) and ask questions such as “Am I on the right path”? Choose the more selfless, right response (long-term good, not just immediate gratification). Remember, you have the ‘Freedom of Choice’, ‘ability to identify’ and ‘Viveka to choose’ the right response, “EVERY MOMENT”. However, our past tendencies stored in our minds enslave us! Our abilities have remained undeveloped because modern education gives us no time, space, environment or Importance & Opportunities of learning Life Skills to improve our tendencies. We need to learn daily self-development practices, Life Skills to be able to manage our Mind to take long-term, good, win-win choices and actions.

5) A simple self-awareness exercise/practice for managing the mind: Just become aware of the sounds outside the room. I am the one Subject. All sounds are mere subtle objects!

Similarly, be aware of the whole of your body! Be aware of breathing; just learn to be a witness (don’t control/change your breathing; just learn to be the subject! Go deeper, as a Subject, I am also witnessing all thoughts, feelings, emotions flowing! I am the Subject; can I learn to remain as a Subject, let thoughts, etc., flow! This simple yet profound exercise leads to various learnings: I learn to remain in the present. I become aware of our real Self as Subject and everything else as objects!

By its nature, the mind is restless, turbulent, full of thoughts, desires, etc., and so it is going to be a very tough battle to tame our mind, harder than any external wars! Only heroes will dare to try! However, now or later, ultimately, each and every person will have to realise that without it, there is no way out!

Therefore, somehow, we need to get an intellectual conviction that the more we practice, the more we pray for the good of others, the more we purify the mind and the more do we move towards excellence. Gradually, the Mind becomes calmer, and we get the inspiration from within to be committed to righteous, selfless kartavya-palan, i.e. being Karma Yogi and learning the spirit of work as worship.

Conclusion: Like mother’s love, father’s discipline, police’s danda, I have to learn to manage my Mind/Thoughts and ignore unwanted, trivial thoughts as an unwanted intruder/guest.

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