Fix the restless mind on Krishna's lotus feet through devotional service, the only permanent solution.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.27 — January 4, 1975, Bombay 750104SB-BOMBAY [42:46 Minutes] SB-03.26.27_750104SB-BOMBAY Nitāi: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.] vaikārikād vikurvāṇān manas-tattvam ajāyata yat-saṅkalpa-vikalpābhyāṁ vartate kāma-sambhavaḥ [SB 3.26.27] [break] [01:08] "From the false ego of goodness, another transformation takes place. From this evolves the mind, whose thoughts and reflections give rise to desire." Prabhupāda: vaikārikād vikurvāṇān manas-tattvam ajāyata yat-saṅkalpa-vikalpābhyāṁ vartate kāma-sambhavaḥ [SB 3.26.27] So, this mind is material because it is the product of transformation of the modes of goodness. Then, gradually, being contaminated by different kinds of material desires, it becomes degraded.
Kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ [Bg. 3.37]. When it is deteriorated, then, from the standard of goodness, it comes to rajo-guṇa. And rajo-guṇa means lusty desires, unending desires. And if desires are not fulfilled, then there is krodha, anger.
In this way, kāma, krodha, lobha, moha, mātsarya—everything becomes very prominent, and we become servant of these propensities, kāma, krodha, moha, mātsarya, mada, lobha. This is called illusion, gradually degraded mind. And the business of the mind is saṅkalpa and vikalpa. Saṅkalpa means decide to do something, and vikalpa means again to reject it.
That is the business of mind. Everyone desires the peacefulness of mind, but the material mind—the nature is saṅkalpa and vikalpa, restlessness. You cannot fix up. So if you can control the senses by the yogic..., mystic yogic process—this mechanical endeavor, how to control the mind—then you can again be placed in the original spiritual status. That is the yoga system.
The yoga system is recommended to persons whose mind is very restless. Everyone's mind is restless—not a particular man mind is restless. Everyone's. But it is very difficult, also, to bring the mind into peaceful status.
So long the desires are there, it is not possible to bring the mind in complete peace and tranquillity. It is not possible, because the saṅkalpa-vikalpa... Vartate-kāma-sambhavaḥ. So long there is desire, so it is not possible to bring the mind under control.
Therefore Caitanya-caritāmṛta says, Kavirāja Gosvāmī, that even the pious actors, those who are acting very piously... Those who are acting impiously, sinfully, there is no question of peace of the mind. That is not possible. Even those who are acting very piously, that is also not possible.