Mano-Niyama: Mastery of the Heart's Intentions

Mano-niyama means regulation or discipline of the mind and heart. It is not repression but conscious awareness. Mirabai practiced mano-niyama through her sadhana—her spiritual discipline—examining every impulse toward divine love with intensity and honesty. In the context of boundaries, mano-niyama invites us to witness our own patterns: Why do we abandon our boundaries with certain people? What fears or needs drive us to override our own wisdom? Do we merge with others to avoid abandonment? Do we yield our truth to maintain peace? This practice requires brutal honesty. When we master the heart's intentions through mano-niyama, boundaries become stronger because they arise from clarity, not rigidity. We understand why we need them. We can maintain them with compassion rather than defensiveness.