I find that despite repeated practice, my mind refuses to stay settled in meditation.

Ans : Some people find if they try to concentrate, the mind runs. They say, "We cannot concentrate." Then you should question yourself, "Why does the mind run away?" and then add to this 'why' the question 'where'-where does the mind run to? It is very difficult to find out. Subconsciously there is some disturbance. If you question the 'why' and 'where,' certain thoughts come and disturb the mind. And what are these thoughts? Thoughts of some persons, thoughts of some experience, thoughts of some previous memory-always it is some thoughts connected with the objects and objective world and objective experience, and if you pursue this investigation further, you will find that the mind tends to run away into those channels and towards those objects to which it is attached, for which it has a desire. This desire may not be in the conscious-it will be in the subconscious.

Analysis will reveal that the mind always tends to run away to the objects to which the individual is attached, and attachment is the same as desire. Attachment and desire go hand in hand. Either you think of a thing that you do not like or you think of the things that you like, to which you are attached. Therefore attachment and repulsion come to the root of the problem. And it means a lack of vairagya (dispassion). If you do not have dispassion, the mind persists in being attached to various things. You must develop your vairagya. You must give up your desires and attachments. By unceasing endeavour you must constantly try to keep yourself established in a perfect state of vairagya, which comes through constant discrimination. Throughout the 24 hours you must discriminate.