MIND, OUR BEST FRIEND & OUR GREATEST TYRANT
The lower mind is nothing more than an aggregation of habits, programming, conditioning (mental and emotional), attachments, likes, dislikes, desires and passions of all sorts.
The worst of all is that we take the lower mind as our self, while in fact it is only a tool of ours, as our hands for example are.
Due to ignorance and identifications, the mind instead of being a servant and an instrument of the Soul, has become the boss and because of its programming and passions a tyrant.
An uncontrolled, passionate mind is our worst enemy and a pure sattvic mind is our best friend and servant.
The former brings pain and suffering, and the later is a valuable instrument that help us to achieve the Self-realization.