KNOW HOW TO DO SELF-CONTROL II

  Self-control is not manifested in the character of any man who ignorantly obeys the dictates of the senses, and blindly serves the internal masters of passion, anger, greed, self-delusion, pride, and egotism. Those who can control themselves, or check the mad rush of the mind toward sense objects, and who cease to obey those animal impulses which are standing like fierce enemies in the path of spiritual progress, enjoy undisturbed peace as long as they live, thus reaching the highest goal of freedom; but those who are constantly guided by sudden waves of passion, anger, pride, jealousy, and hatred, are always disturbed in their minds; they are restless and unhappy

How can persons who are slaves of their senses expect happiness? Happiness comes in the state of perfect freedom, and not in slavery; that freedom again can be acquired only through the practice of self-control; therefore those who desire to enjoy unbounded happiness and peace of mind on this earth should struggle for freedom by learning to practise self-control

The attainment of self-control is easy for those who have learned to study their own minds, and who, after discovering their weaknesses, try to reform their own characters. Like the lower animals, the natural tendency of human beings is to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. As long as man lives in the darkness of ignorance, and cannot trace the causes which make him happy or unhappy, and as long as he does not understand whether happiness and pleasure come from external objects or from within, so long he fails to be master of himself. Right discrimination of the conditions which make one happy or unhappy is the surest guide in the path which leads to the attainment of self-control

Now let us examine the present conditions of our minds. They are naturally attracted by the objects which are pleasing to the senses, or which help in fulfilling the purposes and desires that are extremely strong in us. The majority of mankind are attached to those objects which give pleasure, both sensuous and mental. They are never attached to anything or anybody where they do not find pleasure. In the same manner it can be shown that the natural tendency of the mind is also to get away from pain. The eyes are pleased to look at the beautiful colour which attracts them, the ears are pleased to hear sweet words, melodious notes, and good music. We like to smell sweet fragrance, and to taste the things pleasing to the palate Yet that which is pleasing to the senses of one man may give pain to another. A China-man enjoys Chinese music, but it is painful to our ears. Similarly, the music which is delightful to our ears, gives no pleasure to a China-man. Western music seems like howling and screaming to many Oriental ears which are not trained to it

Many people enjoy curious flavours and high seasoning, and others are disgusted by them. Some people enjoy the burning sensation in the tongue and throat produced by red pepper, while others feel pain from it and shun it. The same colour or same sound or taste which is pleasing to one, may be a source of intense discomfort to another. This shows that pleasure and pain are not the inherent properties of the objects of senses, but that they depend upon the conditions of the mind and body which come in direct contact with those objects