The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later, but the indweller has neither birth nor death. The indweller has no attachment whatsoever and is the eternal witness. (Telugu Poem)

Understand the importance of the mind.

People are deluded by body attachment. The body is ephemeral, evanescent, and impermanent. Whatever is born is transient only. Whatever is there in this world is bound to perish. Only one thing remains forever, and that is the mind. But many people call it monkey mind. No. You belong to mankind and have nothing to do with monkey mind. The mind, in fact, is of the nature of the Self. You should make befitting efforts to understand its true nature. Only those who have control over their mind can be called human beings. Many in this world are highly educated. Also, many have mastered various forms of knowledge and are engaged in mighty tasks. But they cannot be called human beings in the true sense of the term if they have no control over their mind. All kinds of good and bad thoughts occur in the mind. Keeping the mind away from all that is bad, you should accept only that which is good. Never allow your mind to associate with anything that is bad. Goddess Lakshmi always chants only “Narayana! Narayana!” The principle of Atma originates from Lord Narayana. You may say Atma or mind or hridaya (heart); they are all one. The Atma means Narayana only! The mind is also Narayana! And so is the heart. Narayana is called Hridayavasi (indweller of the heart). We should give utmost importance to the mind. But many people do not give due importance to it. One who consider their mind as the basis of his life is a true human being. One who leaves their mind to its whims and fancies is, in reality, a monkey and not a human being. You should make your mind the centre of your awareness. Leaving the mind to its arbitrary ways is like leaving your life principle itself. Hence, make your mind the basis of every aspect of your life. (At this point, Bhagawan materialised a gold medallion.) This medallion has the image of Lakshmi at its centre, with precious stones all around it. The precious stones represent the desires, over which presides Lakshmi who is true, eternal and permanent. You should make your mind the master of desires, like Lakshmi. Everyone should try to know this truth.

“Make your mind the master of desires” by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Kodaikanal, 6 May 2007

The mind does not have any powers. The only power is Atma Shakthi, the power of the Atma.

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When the mind is not engaged in any particular work, its attention should be kept “between the eyebrows. That is the Eye of Wisdom, of Shiva.”

A Compendium of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, page 346.

When you find that your mind is wavering, you should say, “O mind! Do not go crazy and greedy. Be discreet and try to discriminate.”

A Compendium of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, page 347.

The nature of the mind is restless…So, the proper method to deal with the mind is to direct mind’s activity towards good deeds, good thoughts, repetition of the name of the Lord, and not allow it to be aimed at harmful objects, harmful thoughts and deeds.

A Compendium of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, page 346.

From the identification of “I” with the body, all troubles and complications arise. Since it is the mind that has woven this web of identification with the body, it is the mind that now turn and seek one’s true nature through discrimination, renunciation and enquiry. Both ego and intelligence may be included in the word, “mind.” A Compendium of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, page 346.