Q - I have been following your instructions on meditation but I wonder why sometimes there are so many thoughts and this has been increasing recently. How do I find more calmness?
Shri Yogi Hari – It is a natural process. Thoughts are mostly the manifestation of subtle desires. It is almost impossible not to have desires and they are the generators of thoughts. In this day and age, people are so confused! They think the more techniques they have, the better. This generates more agitation and anxiety. Actually most of our desires are rooted in our lower nature, like selfishness and greed. So spiritual aspirants will strive more and more to spiritualize their desires, to make them more sattvic. The more we make our desires sattvic, the more the agitation in our mind will decrease. The way to do it is through selfless activity and service. That will transform the lower nature. Selfishness leads to greed, which leads to jealousy, envy, hatred, anger and fear. If you can have desires for things that not only benefit you but help others as well, then instead of contracting, the mind will become more expansive, and will develop into more love and compassion. The agitation will lessen.
You have faith and perseverance, "abhyasa”. Don’t create fear and anxiety about this agitation or that will generate even more agitation and unsteadiness. Just do japa, pranayama, asanas and chanting, and in your everyday life make sure that what you are doing is beneficial for the humanity. Give your all in doing your duty, then you will see how your mind becomes more steady.
Extract from Yogi Hari's book "Sampoorna Yoga"