II: 67

Chapter 2, Verse 67

“The wind turns a ship
From its course
Upon the waters.
The wandering winds
Of the selfish mind
Turn discernment
From its course.”

Paramahansa Yogananda:

“The process of stablizing the discerning faculty is like keeping a ship on course. Once the Buddhi [discerning faculty] has been purified, the intuitive mind takes over and it is impossible to go off course, because there is only harmony. The intellect can be cultured by education, but discernment flows from intuition. Reason is guided by the intellect, which is colored by the limitations of emotion, desire and habit. Even the highest flights of reasoned thinking are prone to error in the light of these limitations. Discernment born of intuition guarantees clear seeing in any situation. The soul, through the agency of intuition, drops divine guidance into the consciousness of the devotee. Intuitive guidance manifests as wisdom through the Buddhi to guide the intellect to the right determination.

On calm seas during good weather, a boat has smooth sailing and reaches its destination without difficulty. But a boat venturing out during stormy weather will certainly be buffeted. Similarly, devotees who sail the seas of life in the good weather of spiritual habits are bound to reach the shores of infinite joy. But those of spiritual aspiration who navigate their lives through the stormy waters of an ungoverned mind will surely be diverted from their course of good intentions, and may even lose sight completely of the divine polestar.”