Controlling the Senses is the Highest Sadhana

[Guest guest]

Dear Brothers Raghava Rao and Ram Chugani,

 

Love and Love alone....

 

This is in response to your excellent mail on the above subject.

 

Indeed, it is true that sincere Sadhana alone would bestow on us the

Ultimate Truth. Realisation of Self is possible only by " Controlling

the Senses " . As our senses are so arranged and accustomed that they

are in the habit of seeing outside than otherwise, it is not that easy

to control them and without controlling them, it is just impossible to

realise God. God can be realised only when the inner chamber is

without any malice. As long as the senses are not directed to look

within to cleanse the inner chamber, no amount of sadhana will yield

the Ultimate Jnana. Whoever succeeded in controlling the senses (to

mention a few) like Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,

Sri Sivananda, Sri Yogananda Paramahamsa, Sri Sai Baba, Paramacharya,

Lahiri Mahasaya, Trilinga Swami, and many more, the list is unending,

they became Gods in human form walked on this very same earth, on

which we were born and breathing. We are still struggling since we

have not succeeded in controlling our senses as yet. There are various

types of sadhanas and one can chose the one one suits or likes the

most. This birth is meant for that purpose ONLY. In spite of living in

this world, which is, and in the midst of full of attractions and

distractions, and unless one succeeds in making oneself available for

HIS love and compassion, and unless one does not react to the agony

and pain of fellow human being, unless one learns to see God in every

particle of this universe, it is impossible to realise the Truth.

 

Let us do our bit and leave the rest to HIM to take care of.

 

All the postings in TBP, mainly of Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj, clearly

and unequivocally indicate this basic truth only.

 

Many thanks and my salutations to brothers Raghava Rao and Ram

Chugani. May God Shower His Choicest Blessings on Them Always.

 

Love and Love alone....

 

P. Gopi Krishna

 

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Once a Pundit challenged Buddha to enter into a debate with him. The

terms were that if he was the loser, he would follow Buddhism along

with his 3000 disciples and serve Buddha lifelong. But, if Buddha was

the loser, it would be obligatory on his part to become a follower of

the Pundit. Buddha smilingly said, " Pundita Samadarshina " (a true

Pundit is one who has equal?mindedness) . A true Pundit makes no

distinction between the dualities of life, such as pain and pleasure,

joy and sorrow. A person with anger and ego is unfit to be called a

Pundit. In pilgrim centres such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath,

Kedarnath and Amarnath, you find Pandas who give Mantras that would

grant liberation to the departed souls. These Pandas cannot be called

Pundits. In this world, there are many who have gone through sacred

texts. The knowledge of the Self cannot be acquired by mere

scholarship or by sitting at the feet of a guru. There are many who

go through voluminous books, but is there a person who practises at

least one teaching? When you spend all your life in reading, when are

you going to practise it? Scholarship bereft of practice is futile.

Explaining thus, Buddha silenced the Pundit and advised him to shun

the pride and ego of his scholarship. He told the Pundit not to get

carried away by the worldly knowledge. He exhorted him to acquire and

practise divine knowledge and surrender to God. Buddha said, " I

undertook spiritual practice for a long time and went through various

sacred texts in quest of knowledge of the Self. Ultimately, I

realised that mastering the senses is essential for acquiring

knowledge of the Self. The five senses are the gift of God. Make

proper use of them. Only then you can realise the Self. What is the

use of going through sacred texts and undertaking spiritual practices

without proper utilisation of the five senses? I have controlled the

five senses and put them on the right path, as a result of which I am

experiencing bliss. "

 

Buddha attained Nirvana by controlling his five senses and making

proper use of them. What is Nirvana? It is nothing but merger in

bliss. Water bubble is born in water, is sustained in water and

ultimately merges in it; likewise, human being is born in bliss, is

sustained in bliss and ultimately merges in it. Bliss can be

experienced by controlling the five senses. This is the true Sadhana.

Mere chanting of Lord's name will not suffice. First and foremost,

the senses have to be controlled. At the time of attaining Nirvana,

Buddha saw his cousin, Ananda, shedding tears. He called him near and

said, " Ananda, true to your name, you should experience Ananda

(bliss). You should never shed tears of sorrow. You are the

embodiment of Ananda. All of us are embodiments of Brahma. " Saying

so, Buddha put his hand on Ananda and attained Nirvana.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan