The experience of Kuldanand Brahmachari, a disciple of Bengals renowned saint Vijay Krishna Goswami, may be recounted here. Kuldanand would remain very perturbed in the initial stages of his sadhana by the persistence of destructive thoughts in his mind. The more he tried to get rid of them, the more they would surround and haunt him like ghosts. In deep despair, he even entertained the idea of suicide, but then it occurred to him to seek the gurus help. He went to Goswamiji and sobbed out his agony to him: "Gurudev, resolved I indeed was for sadhana, but my mental plight is proving worse than that of animals. Base thoughts of sensuous pleasures, envy, jealousy, ego, etc. have infested my mind and refuse to go away. The situation has now become intolerable. Death is preferable to such a life. So I think I better die now". Vijay Krishna Goswami caressed Kulanands head and comforted him: "This is inverse thinking, son! It is your mind which is the culprit. Rather than reform it, you intend to punish your body. If you have to reform, reform your mind; if you have to punish, punish your mind". "But how?" Kulanand wanted to know. In reply, his gurudev instructed him in the technique of creative thinking. He said: "It is imperative that you stop regarding yourself weak and helpless. You have to believe that you are an amsa (spark) of the Effulgent Divine. His cosmic consciousness is flowing inside you. As this perception becomes strong, you will feel a surge of inner strength and be able to rein in the negative flight of your thoughts. This is the first step in the direction of creative thinking". To make this check on the mind effective and enduring, you will have to forsake the tendency to find justifications and pretexts such as the hand of fate or destiny. Whenever negative thoughts arise to tighten this grip over the mind, brush them aside with firm determination. The second step is replacement. After driving out negative thoughts, they should be replaced by noble and pious thoughts. This could be in the form of remembrance of some personal deity or guru. The third stage is refinement. When the process of replacement is made continuous, refinement begins automatically. One more thing to be kept in mind is that we should not remain immersed in the unpleasant thoughts of the past. Everything negative - negative events, negative deeds-must be released out of the psyche. The sooner, the better. Just contemplate on the real identity of yourself with the intrinsic feeling focused on becoming pure, enlightened and liberated. Simultaneously, unconditionally offer yourself to the Divine. This process imparts sharpness to creative thinking. To accelerate the process of this sublimation, do not forget to embrace high ideals in your life.

- courtesy Akhand Jyoti