Wandering mind and practice

Bhagavan was fully aware of all thoughts that passed through our minds while we sat before him. Once , while i was meditating in the presence of bhagavan, my mind persisted in wandering. I couldn't control it so i gave up meditating and opened my eyes.

Bhagavan at once sat up and said , 'Oh ! You abandon meditation thinking it is the nature [swabhava] of the mind to wander. Whatever we practice becomes the swabhava. If control is practiced persistently , that will become the swabhava.'

Yet another teaching for me ! 

- Sundaram (Sadhu Trivenigiri), Kitchen Workers
(The Power of the Presence 3 by David Godman)