The Three Minds: Strong, Weak and Realized

I had a fascinating inner conversation this morning as I sat with my eyes closed; a witness to the cacophony of thoughts that were centered on the Mind. This was an inner dialogue about what it means to have a “Strong mind vs a Weak one"

Just like many others, my perception of a ' Strong mind' is one that is utterly devoid of fear. It’s a mind that is ready to take on the world, unconcerned with consequences. If you are empowered with such a mind then you have the abilityto stick to every decision you take, follow up on them, indifferent to the opinions of others. You can endure hardships without a flicker of worry and perform actions that would leave others paralyzed with anxiety, all while remaining completely chill.

In other words, it’s about tenacity and projection—projecting to the world an image of being unbreakable.

A person with such a mind might do something careless, but do it with absolute confidence. They might have an accident and feel no regret. They could undergo surgery, bear the pain with a smile, and when given antibiotics and painkillers, follow the doctor's orders with an air of "this really doesn't matter." When warned by wellwishers about health consequences, they might shrug and say, "Ah, that really doesn't matter. I'm above the body; who cares about the body?"

This is what we commonly perceive as a strong mind. But this is only one side of the coin. To truly understand it, we must explore the full spectrum: the Strong Mind, the Weak Mind, and, most importantly, the Realized Mind. These are three distinct stages, and the moment we label the first two, we are dealing with polarities. The problem with polarities however is that you can never absolutely say which is good and which is bad; it all depends on context, perspective, and where you stand.

So, let's examine this from a bipolar perspective.

The "Strong" Mind: The Fearless Elephant

On one end, we have the person with the so-called strong mind. The world looks at this person and thinks, "Wow! He can do the impossible. He can take on challenges, get hurt, and yet not seem to reason pain." He can fast, he can binge, and he is utterly unworried about the consequences. He is fearless.

This mind, let's say it's my mind, is also steeped in faith. It loves God and is steadfast in that faith. But this faith becomes a license for audacity. The reasoning is: my connection with God is so profound and personal that the minor rules and regulations meant for ordinary people don't apply to me. I know God doesn't care about these small things. I can go off-track, confident that my transgressions are forgiven because my love for God is so firmly rooted.

This philosophy becomes a powerful justification for everything. If I drink or smoke or do things my dharma advises against, I say, "That's fine." If I speak of God in a way that seems irreverent, I defend it by saying, "God is above all this, unaffected by our comments; it really doesn't matter." I become like quicksilver, moving freely from one philosophy to another with such fluid logic that it's difficult to pin me down. A strong mind, indeed!

But herein lies the fatal flaw.

In spiritual practice, the goal is to transcend the mind. Yet, this "strong" mind is not being transcended; it is growing stronger, more controlled, and more arrogant. It produces excellent logic and reasoning, not only to impress others but to impress itself—to impress me. I feel empowered, like an elephant in its masti (playful exuberance). I feel that whatever I do is right, unassailable. In that very masti, in that arrogance, as my mind fortifies itself, I am actually moving away from the divine.

Let me illustrate with an analogy.

Suppose I want to drive from Bangalore to Mumbai. As a person with a "strong" mind, I am utterly chill. I don't care about traffic lights, speed limits, or police. I don't worry about death, mileage, or a minor accident. I have absolute faith that God will get me there. So, I drive recklessly, on the phone, perhaps even intoxicated, completely disregarding the rules of the road.

But what are these rules? They are the railings and dividers on the highway. They aren't there because the other side is inherently evil; they are there because they keep you on the safest, most efficient path to your destination. One side of the railing might be a gorge, another a beautiful but distracting vista. If I disrespect these railings, the probability of me reaching Mumbai in one piece, on time, is remote. I might crash, get a flat tire, or end up back in a Bangalore hospital. My journey is severely impacted.

The paradox of the "strong" mind is that its greatest perceived strength—its unshakeable self-belief—is its greatest spiritual weakness. By trying to be strong, I end up sabotaging my own journey.

The "Weak" Mind: The Cautious Traveler

Now, let's look at the other polarity: the person we often label as having a "weak" mind.

This person is not weak out of cowardice, but out of a deep-seated Paapabhiti—fear of transgression or sin. He follows all the rules and regulations laid down by religion. He doesn't want to lie or cheat; he frets over even small untruths. He respects authority and ensures he doesn't break rules. When it comes to his diet and health, he is paranoid, or rather, he pays meticulous attention.

To the world, this person appears weak. "He has anxiety," we say. "He is stressed, he can't make up his mind, he worries too much."

Yet, if we look closely, this person, driven by paapabhiti, will always stay on the track. His journey may be fraught with anxiety, lest he is stopped by the traffic police, or he takes the wrong turn, or that he is not going too fast.... but he is far less likely to veer off the road into a gorge than the "strong"-minded driver. He may not enjoy the journey, but he is on the right trajectory.

The Realized Mind: The Wise Driver

So, we have two extremes: one rooted in overconfidence, the other in fear. Both are problematic. The overconfident mind cannot transcend itself because it is too powerful and self-impressed. The fearful mind cannot realize the divine because fear is a barrier.

This brings us to the realized mind—the mind that is neutral, that has moved beyond the bipolar trap.

The realized mind understands the limitations of both. It sees that the "strong" mind is actually arrogant and disconnected from the practical wisdom of the rules. It also sees that the "weak" mind, while on track, is driven by the ignorance of fear—like mistaking a rope for a snake.

The goal, then, is to respect rules, not out of fear but an understanding of why those rules help make life more beautiful.

This is not a mere swap of motivations. It is a profound shift in understanding. The realized individual doesn't follow rules out of a fear of punishment, but out of the realization that these rules—the dharma, the natural laws—are the optimal way to live for the benefit of oneself, the community, and the entire ecosystem.

This person respects the railings not because they are afraid of the gorge, but because they understand the purpose of the railing. They move towards their destination the divine because of their love ( Daivapriti) , but they do so with attentiveness, respect for the rules of the road, and a calm, composed demeanor ( and not reckless abandon)

In Conclusion

To sum it up

· The Strong Mind is a spiritual liability, mistaking arrogance for strength and creating endless detours on the path.

· The Weak Mind, while appearing frail, has potential because it is already accustomed to discipline and is not bloated with self-importance, making it easier to transcend.

· The Realized Mind is the ultimate goal. It is the mind that has inquired, understood, and chosen the dharmic path not out of fear, but out of wisdom. It follows the rules with a calm composure, free from the pride of the "strong" and the anxiety of the "weak." It doesn't seem harsh or overly powerful, but simply, perfectly, and effortlessly aligned with what is right. In that apparent "weakness" lies its unshakable strength.