The waves of thoughts are always on in the mind. They also change from time to time. According to those very waves the thoughts at times become metaphysical religious and philosophical and at times cruel. disgusting, detestable, shameful, laughing-stock, even insulting and harmful.

 

The place, time, circumstances, diet, dress, near and dear ones play an important role in the long chain of thoughts. Man has a constant change in his thoughts from moment to moment.

 

Whenever his thoughts are entwined by the illustrious merits earned in previous births, then those thoughts tend towards the performance of good deeds. When there is something different, then there should certainly be some element polluting the thoughts. Then with an analytical view we should look into our place, timings, diet, dress etc. There is a proverb: ‘As is your diet, so is your mind. 72

 

There was a saint. While on a journey, he had to stay at a place in the night. He went in a big building. The owner of the building welcomed him. The food was served in the utencils made of silver. The dishes included dry fruits and sweetmeats. A comfortable arrangement was made for his sleep.

 

The room provided was decorated in a very artistic manner. But he could not sleep. Many polluted thoughts environed him. He went in meditation.

 

In the morning he came to know from the Seth that the room was used to be provided for the entertainment of foreigner guests, involved in unchaste activities. The source of income also was the money earned by illegal means. The influence of that was inevitable naturally. The saint had to fast for a few days, then only his feelings could be purified.

 

Diet and place influence the thoughts and activities. Likewise, the current of thoughts is also transmitted from one man to another. The type of transmission of thoughts is now called telepathy.

 

An old woman was on the way with a big packet atop her head. Feeling tired, she rested under the shadow of a tree. From the same direction a man was coming on a horse. The old woman requested the horseman. ‘O brother, will you please carry this packet placing it on the back of the horse for a short distance?”

 

The horseman told, ‘I am not a servant of yours. I am a government officer.”

 

The old woman had to keep quiet. The horseman moved on. Soon he thought, ‘may be her packet is full of valuable things. Should I escape with it, she would not be able to do anything against me.”

 

He came back and told ‘O mother, please excuse me. I feel ashamed of my behaviour to have denied my help to you. Please let me have your packet which I will carry to your destination.”

 

The old woman told. ‘No, my son, you leave it. I will carry it myself. Why should I put you in trouble?”

 

The horseman told. ‘What has happened to you. old woman? Just a few moments ago you had requested ne and now you are rejecting my offer.

 

The old woman replied. ‘O my son. the same telepathy which you have received. I also have received.

 

The idea, even untold, was transmitted from one mind to another. How the feelings are expressed! The feeling can be observed through the eyes. Likewise is the proverb. Face is the mirror of man.”

 

Face is the image of inner sense. What you think, needs not be expressed. It is itself written on the face. lips and eyes. You might have observed that some one’s smile is very crooked, while other’s smile is much graceful solemn, natural, receptive, sweet and pleasing.

 

The place or locality also influences the thoughts. That is why, while choosing a place for whatever use we collect details about its sanctity from the scholars, researchers and pandits. We get it sanctified also. How the non-sancitity of a place influences our thoughts is exemplified here below:

 

Sravana-kumara, known for obedience to his parents, was on pilgrimage carrying his parents in a ‘Kanwar’ or ‘behangi. (each seated in a basket which was made to hang from either end of a pole placed across Sravana-kumara’s shoulder). Visiting many places, he passed through a place, called Jahajpur.

 

At once it stroke to him, ‘how long shall I carry these old parents? I have made them visit many centres of pilgrimage. now I will leave them here. May they remain alive. may they die. Their life seems not to be much longer now on. My feet are wounded. I am badly tired. It will not be possible for me to move any further.”

 

Sravana-kumara let his parents know his feeling. They striken with wonder, thought. ‘Our son has been beyond ego and selfishness; so obedient and so helping. How could such a feeling strike to him? What an unfortunate moment is facing us? Who is here to help us, what is fate going to bring for us?’

 

Sravana-kumara’s father was a wise man. He told. ‘O son. your feeling is allright. We have no objection. But we have a minor request to make. Should you agree. please carry us just to the outskirts of this place. Sravana-kumara thought, ‘I have made them visit so many centres of pilgrimage and served them so long. Now there would be no harm if I honour this minor request of them. And he agreed. He took up the ‘Kanwar’ and proceeded on. Within half an hour the border was crossed.

 

To a great wonder, Sravana-kumara started to feel. ‘I have put my parents in trouble, I have hurt them, Who is there to help them during their old age? How was it that I could utter such harsh words? Shame to my life! How did such a polluted feeling come in my mind?”

 

He started weeping with tears constantly sheding. He knelt to the feet of parents and asked them to forgive him.

 

The father told. ‘O son, you are not guilty, it is all due to this place which we have come across. Both the soil and air of this place are polluted. Hence such polluted feeling come to your mind. We have no doubt in your devotion towards us. Do not curse yourself any more. Proceed on.’

 

This was the influence of the place. So is the influence of the way of earning the food. The food procured for us is by whom? Is that man not a wicked, thief, dishonest. smuggler, murderer, passionate? These aspects of the topic have to be described.

 

We have clear and repeated experience, through brain and mind, that the food taken on a rich man’s dining table brings no pleasure, but creates restlessness and ill feelings in the mind. On the other hand, a very simple plate of food offered by a poor man brings an ecstatic pleasure.

 

An unexpressible experience of satisfaction and peace. an inspiration to help others and contemplation of God. are the result of the food which we take.

 

This heavenly pleasure is the contribution of the merits which are earned by the money spent on that food. The Sattvika and Tamasika types of thoughts also vary according to the type of food taken and the means the food is acquired by.

 

The atmosphere plays so impoortant a role regarding feelings that it brings diversion in our thoughts. So we should have a perfect knowledge of our environment. Natural beauty always infuses pious feelings in the mind. How good will it be when the whole world will have this very type of feeling! Then this earth will turn into heaven.