Comparing Human Mind To Honeybee In Hinduism

Comparing human mind to honeybee in Hinduism is very common. Here is look at this teaching.

Hovering over trees, shrubs and plants, sniffing and sampling the flowers to check how much of nectar is available there, it lives — the honeybee. Making honey is its mission of life.

Its life is a life of constant chase for flowers. This is what takes it to gardens, jungles, shrubs and groves. It keeps buzzing over the flowers and once it settles down on a flower, it is absorbed in sipping the honey. It becomes quiet. No more sound, no more movement, no more anxiety.

Sri Ramakrishna, one may recall, used to compare the human mind to a honeybee.

As long as the mind is doubtful and undecided, it makes sound. It hops from one object to another, sampling and sniffing various ideas and lines of thinking. Not only that. After ‘gathering’ some ideas, it wants to tell that it has done so. Hence, it keeps shouting its ideas, weighing them, criticizing or praising them— discarding some, retaining some others. But once the mind settles down on Truth or on the path leading to Truth, it becomes quiet. No more commotion or sound of any kind—only sipping the honey.

Source – Vedanta Kesari Editorial November 2007

Additional Facts

The life of a honeybee, as described in your passage, serves as a profound metaphor in Hindu philosophy, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge, fulfillment of one's duties, and the importance of focus and dedication. This symbolism can be expanded through Hindu teachings, scriptures, and quotes that resonate with the metaphor of the honeybee's life.

1. Pursuit of Knowledge (Jnana) and Wisdom

The honeybee's constant chase for flowers parallels the human pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Just as the bee is drawn to flowers for nectar, a seeker of knowledge is drawn to spiritual teachings and wisdom. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says:

"The wise, who are engaged in the welfare of all beings, attain Me alone." (Bhagavad Gita 12.4)

This verse highlights the idea that just as the bee seeks nectar, the wise seek the nectar of knowledge and spiritual truth, leading them to the ultimate truth, which is God.

2. Fulfillment of Dharma (Duty)

The honeybee’s mission to collect nectar and make honey aligns with the concept of Dharma in Hinduism. Dharma refers to the moral duty and righteousness that one must fulfill in life. The bee, in its unwavering focus on its duty, exemplifies the ideal of living in accordance with one’s Dharma.

The Rigveda praises the bee for its tireless work:

"The bee collects honey, flying from flower to flower, tirelessly, and never harming the flowers." (Rigveda 1.10.7)

This verse reflects the Hindu ideal of performing one’s duties selflessly, without attachment to the fruits of one's actions, as taught in the Bhagavad Gita (2.47).

3. Focus and Meditation (Dhyana)

When the bee finally settles on a flower, it is absorbed in sipping the nectar, symbolizing the state of Dhyana or meditation. This is when the bee (or the practitioner) becomes quiet, still, and fully immersed in the present moment, experiencing peace and fulfillment.

The Mundaka Upanishad speaks to this focus:

"When the mind is silent, absorbed in deep meditation, the self reveals itself." (Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.8)

This resonates with the bee's journey — from restless buzzing to stillness and absorption in the nectar, paralleling the journey of the mind from restlessness to stillness in meditation.

4. Modern-Day Relevance

In the modern world, the metaphor of the honeybee is particularly relevant. The honeybee's dedication to its task amidst distractions mirrors our need to focus in a world filled with endless distractions. Whether it’s in our professional lives, spiritual pursuits, or personal growth, the bee’s life teaches us the importance of staying committed to our goals and finding peace in the fulfillment of our duties.

Moreover, the environmental importance of bees reminds us of the interconnectedness of all life, a concept central to Hinduism. The bee, while fulfilling its duty, also contributes to the ecosystem, much like how fulfilling our Dharma contributes to the greater good.

5. Similar Thoughts in Hindu Scriptures

The honeybee is also mentioned in other Hindu texts. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the bee is compared to a wise man who takes the essence of scriptures, leaving aside the unnecessary:

"The wise man, like a bee, collects the essence from all scriptures, great and small, leaving aside the irrelevant." (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8.9)

This teaches the importance of discernment in life, focusing on what is truly valuable and essential, much like how the bee seeks only the nectar.

In conclusion, the life of the honeybee, as a metaphor, is deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy, representing the pursuit of knowledge, the fulfillment of Dharma, and the importance of meditation and focus. Its relevance transcends time, offering lessons that are applicable in today’s fast-paced world, encouraging us to live with purpose, dedication, and mindfulness.