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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/05/23/stories/2002052300510800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

 

 

Control over senses, mark of a devotee

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

MAY 23

 

.. All living beings undergo suffering by succumbing to the pull of their sensory

organs. The lower order of beings like insects and animals meet their end in the

process. In the case of man the overall effect of sensory distractions, which

disturb his mind, makes him indulge in worldly engagements without concentrating

on spiritual pursuit. Scriptures draw attention repeatedly to the importance of

exercising control over the senses and the mind to realise the goal of human

birth realisation of God.

 

The Bhagavata Purana says, "That speech alone is worth the name through which

one sings His praises; those hands alone which do service to Him deserve to be

called, hands; that mind alone is rightly so called which constantly remembers

the Lord dwelling in all mobile and immobile creatures; and those ears alone

deserve the title which hear the sacred stories of His sports. That head alone

deserves to be styled as such which bows to all mobile and immobile creatures

regarding them as the very images of God; that eye alone is the real eye, which

sees God in everything; and those limbs alone are properly so called, which are

daily sprinkled with the waters which wash the feet of the Lord and of His

devotees."

 

This description of human faculties being utilised properly is in the form of a

submission King Parikshit made to Sage Suka who was eager to listen to the glory

of such devotees of God and the sage immediately related to him the incident of

Lord Krishna showering His grace on Sudama, His childhood friend. The sage

introduced Sudama in line with the question put to him, "He possessed true

knowledge of Brahman and was free from attachment to the objects of the senses.

His mind was composed and he had full control over his senses. Although a

householder, he used to remain contented with whatever he got without effort...

"

 

In her discourse, Smt.Sudha Seshayyan said the story of Sudama in the Bhagavata

Purana highlighted how a true devotee of God retained equanimity of mind under

all circumstances. His abject poverty had earned him the name Kuchela one

who was always ill clad. His wife unable to behold their children suffering from

pangs of hunger entreated him time and again to approach Lord Krishna for help

and he finally agreed because he would get a chance to meet Him, which was a

gain in itself. The Lord to whom only devotion matters blessed him with riches

unsought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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