The austerity of the mind is higher than the austerity of body and speech, for if we learn to master the mind, the body and speech automatically get mastered, while the reverse is not necessarily true. Factually, the state of the mind determines the state of an individual’s consciousness. Shri Krishna stated in verse 6.5, “Elevate yourself through the power of your mind and not degrade yourself, for the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.” 

People imagine that their thoughts are secret and have no external consequences because they dwell within the mind, away from the sight of others. They do not realize that thoughts not only forge their inner character but also their external personality. 

It is important to realize that we harm ourselves with every negative thought that we harbor in our minds. At the same time, we uplift ourselves with every positive thought that we dwell upon. 

Each thought we dwell upon has consequences and thought by thought, we forge our destiny. For this reason, to veer the mind from negative emotions and make it dwell upon positive sentiments is considered austerity of the mind.
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