Controlling desires

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

Controlling desires and overcoming our senses is the most toughest thing in the world. Great people like Sri Aadi Sankaraachaarya, Sri Paramaachaarya, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Ramana Maharshi are so great primarily because of their ability to control their senses and desires. For normal human beings the body rules the aatma, whereas for these people it’s the other way round. Controlling inner things is more difficult than controlling external things. That’s why we find fewer sanyaasis (genuine) than the celebrities (Rich people, people with power, fame etc)

Great people have shown how we can achieve this control by exercise and practice than just escaping from it by saying, “God has made me like this.” OR “This is what gives me happiness.” Lets look at one such incident here.

The great Paramaachaarya (known as “Walking God”) used to take Bhiksha (food obtained through begging) as per his sansaaysi aashrama dharmam. During his younger days one day he was having his bhiksha and he asked the cook about the Dal that had been served to him. The cook responded saying that its Totakoora Pappu (“Amaranthus with lentils”). Paramaacharya responded, “Its very delicious.”

The cook was delighted to hear the response. The following day he cooked the same dish and Paramaachaarya ate that and said that it was good. For the next couple of days the cook went on to cook the same dish and Paramaachaarya ate that. The following day Paramaachaarya did not show up for his Bhiksha. Everyone was worried. When peetaadhi pathis don’t show up for Bhiksha, anybody and everybody cannot go and ask them casually about that or remind them about that. They hoped that he would show up the following day. But on the contrary, Paramaachaarya did not show up even on the following day. This continued for more than 5-6 days. People got really worried and following the protocol, appropriate sishyas were sent to Paramaachaarya to find out the reason for Paramaachaarya not taking the Bhiksha.

Paramaachaarya responded, “This tongue of mine attempted at controlling me and so I thought I should teach it a lesson. It longed for the dish yielding to the taste of that Totakoora Dal (Amaranthus lentils). Being a peetaadhi pathi, if I yield to my tongue (one of my senses) then how can I preach others? Also, the word would spread around about my liking for this dish and people would start pouring in with that leafy vegetable. Foreseeing this, over the last few days I have been cleaning my tongue with “Aavu peda” (Cow dung). Cow dung is used for cleaning the floor as it disinfects the floor and kills all the virus and bacteria. Once my tongue is cleaned with that, then it would not long for any specific taste.”

We all know what he has went onto become. He is the only person who never boarded a train or a bus or a vehicle in his life. He either walked or was carried in palanquins, when he was not in a physical condition to walk, all through his life.

Though it is not easy, it is certainly not impossible to control our senses (desires arising out of those) to some extent atleast. For that we have to consciously attempt at doing that. It might a long time, but we have to be patient and constantly be on it. If we analyze, ultimately all worries, angst and problems in a human life are because of yielding to these desires arising out of our senses.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.