Senses sans sensibility - Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.58

Dear Chithra
Thanks for another great post. This principle of non attachment is like a thread woven throughout Gita. One can only be firm in knowledge when one learns to completely withdraw the sense organs. I was also just wondering in my mind the question that Arjuna has raised. So the man of perfection has had to discipline himself in order to achieve the near impossible of withdrawing mind from the senses. For this act to be accomplished one has to be alert at all times. When one has to learn to be in the world but not of it one has to put in a lot of practice mostly by the mind and intellect. I remember a story I once read on this regard. One man owned 2 pet parrots. one of them managed to escape. The other felt very sad. Wondering how to escape. Then the other parrot sent a message, Pretend to be dead. So this parrot not knowing why pretended to be dead. The owner saw this and cursed and opened the cage to clean when the parrot flew away. This was specifically for to be of the world and not of it. Thanks again for writing.

 

Dear C & C,

I know I cannot beat the other C (AC?), in being the first to give feedback to your (as usual, as always) wonderful posts ! But I think you have touched upon the greatest impediment to mental peace and balance - temptation. I would like to share my thoughts in the perspective of not just the sense organs, but of our tendencies !

Nothing is ever going to be enough for anyone. "Be ambitious", "Challenge yourself", "Be the best - get the best" are things which we hear in different contexts in our lives - more so, these days, I guess, when benchmarks for success and happiness seem to be pre-defined ;-) .

There is always going to be a 'better paying job' or a 'more luxurious house' or 'someone else whose kids are always getting first rank in school'. Where do we draw the line? I suppose when this 'quest' (rat race??) starts, thanks to the various modern lifestyle temptations that we keep encountering, then there is no end to it really.

It is OK to experience the variety and challenges that life has to offer. After all, God created various things / helped man discover / invent various things only for us to experience in our lifespan. But that should not become a greedy desire and a motive strong enough to disturb the mind and the simple pleasures of humble living.

Please keep your Gita posts coming.
Thanks and love
Your IL disciple,
Pavithra

 

Dear Chithra,
Another very interesting post from Gita explaning about the senses.Controlling the senses is a real tough task to acheive.But if one masters that art, then he reaches the state of what you have explained as a man of steady wisdom.Your example of tortoise made the understanding easier.Once the senses and the mind are under our control, the only thing we will visualise is god and it will be our ultimate goal and nothing else can break that thought flow.

Thanks Chithra.

 

Dear Sri,
My..my how do you come up with so apt examples that suit the leader post by chithra? Bowto you.It really makes my understanding better and leaves a trail on the mind.I mull over the Gita topic based on the example you quote everytime.Thanks a lot.
Today's post is also well supported by your apt examples.Indeed Rishis dreaded Indra for he had a strong liking to disrupt every other rishi's tapas.Your quoting from Confucius philisophy was very interesting.Hear with ear send to mind and then to soul- passively respond to the outer world ..hmm... real food for thought!

Ofcourse , the kanni ponna pokile song is a good anology here.If we can channelise and compartmetalise our mind and actions, yes, we are sure heading towards the steady state mind.

Thanks for this wonderful post Sri.

 

Dear C

Thanks for your ever-lucid interpretation of the Gita slokas. If we learnt who a Sthithapragya is last week, this week it is how to become one. So, this is a very precious and extremely useful verse. The example of tortoise provides much clarity. The following paragraph sums it all up and should be kept as a frequent reminder.
The wise person must have the capacity to manage his mind and senses. The senses only report to us, what is happening. But sense pursuits do not happen to a man without his action or signature! He has to learn to withdraw the senses, at will, from the objects and into oneself. This ease is not with us now and so, we fall a prey to their enchantments and suffer tragedies.

Dear Sri

The following statements are very profound - It only means that the Mind should be trained to insulate the Soul against the harmful effects of what the sense organs convey. The Mind should not initiate such action that will negate the existence of the Soul.

Unlike the Rishis who need a Menaka to get distracted, we are distracted and fall prey to whatever we see, hear and feel in our day to day life. We get provoked at the drop of a hat, hurt even faster than that. Your elucidation reminds me of the popular quote known to all -
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Our words, actions habits, character and destiny all spring from our thoughts. Many thanks to you both for your strong reminder to manage mind and senses...!

-Gayathri.