MAN SHOULD BECOME MASTER OF THE SENSES BUT NOT A SLAVE OF THE SENSES

There can be no body without the 'SENSES' nor senses without the body. These 'two' are inseparable and interdependence. Negative without positive, or positive without negative (in case of electric current) will serve no purpose.

Likewise, a body without senses, or senses without a body cannot function. Hence it is imperative for every person to take proper care of the body.

"Man should aspire and strive to become a master of the senses but not a slave of the senses".

The role of the senses is remarkable. The wonders performed by the Divine defy description. But the part played by the senses is even more marvelous indeed are the ways of the sense organs. "The senses are subtler than the body. Although the faculties of speech, touch, sight, hearing and taste as well as gas, bile and phlegm exist in the body."

The senses exercise extraordinary control over all of them equally. Joy and sorrow, heat and cold etc., are experienced only when the sense organs come in contact with external objects. Without the sensory objects, the senses cannot function even for a moment.

All the activities of the senses are oriented towards the objects in the environment. It is possible for us to comprehend or describe the myriad facets of sense organs and their activities.


'TONGUE'

The senses are also called 'measuring instruments'. How is this measuring done by the sense organs?
Take a fruit, for instance. Which of the senses has the capacity to determine whether it is sweet or sour? Which is the sense organ that measures or decides the taste of an objects? It is the 'TONGUE'.

"The 'tongue' determines the taste of an eatable, decides whether it is good or bad and makes it known to all concerned."


'EYE'

"Which organs is capable of declaring whether a picture is attractive or ugly? The 'EYE' alone is the measuring tool for this purpose."

Similarly, the power to determine whether an object is fragrant or foul-smelling is 'vested in the nose'.

Likewise, it is 'the ear' that can discriminate between a melodious musical note and a discordant one. Thus, the sense organs are endowed with the capacity to measure and determine the particular quality or characteristic of different sense objects.

"Today it is the duty of every person to control the horse like senses."

"Only then can he be called "a Hero in the true sense. Whatever rituals are may perform, whatever Scriptures, Quran, Bible, he might have mastered, if he has no control over his senses, all these accomplishments are worthless."

The 'SENSES' (measuring instruments). It indicates that the limit to what can be experienced by each sense organ, has been prescribed by the 'GOD'.

For instance, the eye can only see, but cannot hear. The mouth can only speak, but cannot see. Thus each organ has been endowed by 'GOD' with a specific talent only. Those who use these organs according to the divinely prescribed functions will alone be acting up to the will of the Divine.

Those who violate the prescribed limits will be transgressing the Divine will, thereby becoming liable for punishment.

It is only by properly using the 'God-given' senses for the purposes for which they are intended that man can rise to "Divine height".

Just because you have the sense organs, you should not use them as you please:

"They are like horses yoked to a chariot. You must know how to handle them properly so that the chariot can run smoothly and safely along the right road to the ultimate goal of life. The horses must be in front of the chariot."

"Today, on the contrary, the horses are placed behind the chariot. This is leading to dangerous consequences. If, on the plea that the senses be respected and given a place of honour, you place the horse (senses) inside the chariot, how can the chariot move at all?"

While fostering the senses, no effort is being made to bring them under control internally.

This amounts to feeding a horse excessively and unduly fattening it, but not giving it adequate work. This is sure to have untoward results. Today we are pampering the senses but not giving them any work. "That is why they are running amuk, spelling disaster to the master himself." The sense should be put to right use as ordained by 'GOD', otherwise, man will have to suffer from lack of peace.

Please note:

"The senses also have been compared to (animals). The word 'animal' means "the one whose vision is externally oriented."

"The one having inner vision, is master of the senses, but not a slave of the senses."

It is a pity that today's man has become a slave of the senses. There are several ways of taming the senses and putting them on proper path. In this connection, it is important to avoid pampering the senses.


"INVESTIGATE THE BIRTH PLACE OF THE SENSE PLEASURES"

If you investigate carefully about the 'birth place' of the sense pleasures, "you will find that they have their origin in sorrow only."

That is why every sense pleasure carries with it "the sting of sorrow." The pleasure derived from the senses is momentary and "ultimately ends up in grief only."

"Desires arise this moment and subside the next moment."
"Desire this moment and digest next moment!"

Pleasure and pain in quick succession! By thus contemplating on the momentary and deceptive nature of the so-called sense-pleasures, we can develop discrimination and detachment and keep the senses under check.

Another important point you should note is that;

"If the senses are kept busy in the right way, there will be no trouble from them. Otherwise, you will become their slave."


"WORLDLY PERSONS"

'Worldly persons' "look only at the superficial and external aspects of things and actions." But Lord does not see things that way. He is "free from hatred or envy, likes or dislikes."

When these are attributed to the Lord, "they are a reflection of your own feelings."
'GOD' "is like a clean mirror." What you see there in is but a mere reflection of your own actions and postures, grin for a grin, smile for a smile, salute for a salute, and so on.

You are punished or rewarded by your own actions. Hence no one is entitled to question "the action of GOD". Accusing 'GOD' of favouritism to some and indifference to some others... Who has the authority to dictate to 'GOD' how He could conduct Himself?

The actions of the 'GOD' are always full of love and entirely free from selfishness and therefore totally taintless. That is why God has several appellations like:

"Attributeless, taintless, eternal, pure, enlightened free, etc."

Please remember! As you think, so you become. You look at the world through coloured glasses and wrongly attribute those colours to the world... God does not purity or impurity. It is all in our vision only. It is our defective vision that makes you see defects which do not exist in creation.

And please note:

"The defects which you attribute to the senses are, in fact, the defects in your own thought processes and feelings, if the senses are properly used, they will offer you the right impressions."

However, some stubborn people given to vain argumentation, blame God for giving an outgoing orientation to man's senses. They argue that God has given the 'EYES' with doors which open to the outside world; 'EARS' which can hear external sounds; And 'NOSES' that can only inhale the air from outside.

They contend, therefore, that the fault lies with the creator only and not with them. They try to justify their senserous behaviour, by saying; "Toerr is human."

Such misleading rationalisation is a travesty of truth and is worthy of strong condemnation, especially when it is indulged in by the youth.

"If animals behave wrongly, it is quite understandable, because they are not endowed with the faculty of discrimination to control and guide their senses."

"But if man, who is blessed by GOD with the power of discrimination, takes to the wrong path, yielding to his senses, it is highly unpardonable. How paradoxical and rediculous it is to be born as a man and to behave as an animal."
Behave, therefore, as befits a human being.

An eminent poet sang thus about the havoc that the senses are capable of:

"If the head harbours wicked thoughts the tongue indulges in calumny, if the eyes are keen to observe others lapses, if the ears are alert to overhear other, if the mind and heart are bent upon deceiving others,.... at the very sight of these monstrosities justice and fair play will not survive at all."


From Empty Hands,
A.Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

06 JUNE 2011

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