The Hindu : Control the senses and mind

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Control the senses and mind

CHENNAI AUG.12 . Human beings have to turn to the scriptures to acquire knowledge about the ultimate good that makes human life meaningful. They give the discriminative capacity to differentiate between what is good and what is to be eschewed. If a person indulges in sensory pursuits the knowledge he learns from the scriptures will then become only an intellectual exercise. For a spiritual aspirant the basic prerequisite is to learn to control the mind. This is possible only if the mind is free from desires, greed, anger and hatred. Further, it must be understood that sorrows are intrinsic to worldly life and hence one should not become disillusioned and depressed when facing troubles.

The Supreme Being is all- pervasive, whereas the mind's engagement in the world is limited generally. When the mind becomes placid by self-control it develops the capacity to become all encompassing. Just like a mirror reflects the object in front of it the mind has the quality of grasping the object on which it dwells. When it becomes capable of dwelling on the Supreme then it acquires its nature. After this there is no return to its original nature. So sorrows do not trouble the mind as the nature of the Supreme is bliss and the mind acquires this quality.

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said only when the sensory organs and the mind were in total control was it possible to grasp the Self (Atman). The Bhagavad Gita says, "With the attainment of placidity of mind, all sorrows come to an end; and the intellect of such a person of tranquil mind soon withdrawing from all sides becomes firmly established in God." How does one develop interest in spiritual knowledge? It is by the grace of the preceptor (Guru) that an individual is drawn to spirituality and pursues study of the scriptures. This is again the result of the merit one has performed in previous lives. When one engages in scriptural study if there is no mental control instead of understanding the subtle truth the mind will be riddled with doubts only. First the spiritual seeker must have a logical understanding of the philosophical concepts. In due course with the grace of the Guru this intellectual understanding will result in experience as a result of which the knowledge of the Self will get established. Besides, the desire for liberation from bondage must be strong, as scriptural study should not be undertaken as an intellectual endeavour.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

News Update

Stories in this Section

All in the game

The Hindu Crossword 7749

Solution to puzzle 7748

Control the senses and mind

dated August 12, 1953: West Indies Need 'Pro' Captain

dated August 12, 1953: Asian Socialists Meet in India

dated August 12, 1953: Indians in Foreign Firms

Weather