Desires are not controllable

Sishya:

Some say,”Control your desires,”
But such words are easy, yet far from wise.
The mind, triggered by senses all around,
Grows restless, in desires it’s bound.

Suppress them, and grief will grow,
Embrace them, and attachments will show.
A tricky path, how to deal with this storm?
To walk without anguish, without losing form.

Yet, there must be a way, some path to find,
To calm the heart and still the mind.
Please share the truth, the way to be,
How can I be free from desires’ decree?

Guru:

Walk away, my child, from desire’s grasp,
Like thorns in the path, let them pass.
Do not claim them as yours to keep,
Simply witness, without the leap.
As they rise and fall, let them flow,
Like winds that pass and soon let go.

Sishya:

But how, sir, when they rise in my mind,
How can I stay calm, untouched, unbind?
Desires and anguish swirl and tease,
How do I remain steady, at ease?

Guru:

Senses, like wild horses, run untamed,
Chasing pleasures, making mind inflamed.
Like a sword, desires pierce the mind
Causing like and dislike ripples ascend

Sishya:

Where all our senses travel to seek
Pleasures of any sort, there desires sneak!
They may, at times, feel like a fleeting breeze,
But more often, grow as a daunting force!

Use the Reins of Mind to drive the Senses

Guru:

Let them be, my child, May you not fear!
Let the horses see the path that is clear!
A wise charioteer with the tight reins steer
Far from wandering, to what is right, dear!

Without a purpose, and a plan of motion
The Journey of life is without direction!
Know the way to go, what is it for and so!
Or the journey is lost, may you thus know!

May the horses of senses be reined with care,
With the mind, held by the knowledge fair,
Let the intellect be the driver of the cart,
With the light of heart, keeping steadfast

Sishya:

O Sir! Sometimes the reins grow slack,
And the horses wander, no turning back.
When loosed, they run wild, at their own will,
Carrying me far, away from still.

Guru:

What do you expect, my child, to see?
If the reins are loose, the horses roam free.
Without the proper grip, without the right stance,
The senses take over, lead you in a dance.
Intellect is the Driver

Sishya:

Who, then, must hold the reins with might?
Who is the ruler, the one who must fight?

Guru:

It is your ‘Buddhi’, your discerning mind,
The intellect that sees, that leads, refined.

Like a drunkard falling, if the intellect sways,
The reins grow slack, and the senses have their ways.
When deluded, the grip weakens,
The horses break free, and wander, unspoken.

Sishya:

I understand, Sir, your words are clear,
I know the right path, and what to steer.

Yet still, I lack the power to reign,
My mind slips, and I feel the strain.
Though I know the way, the grip is lost,
And the horses run wild, no matter the cost.

Guru:

Attaining firm knowledge, yes, is key,
But knowledge alone will not set you free.
If the mind is weak, if it cannot stand,
Then even right knowledge slips through your hand.

Without Pure Mind, Intellect is powerless

Guru:

Let the mind become pure, my child,
Free of the clutter, calm and mild.
Weed out the useless, the thoughts that sway,
And practice to keep the blemishes at bay.

Polish your mind like a crystal clear,
Untouched, untarnished, pure without fear.
When the mind is clean, aligned with the light,
It follows the intellect, day and night.

The mind, like a chief, takes its cues,
From the intellect’s clear and steady views.
When Buddhi and mind in harmony align,
You walk in clarity, purpose, divine.

As ‘yuktam’ such alignment is known
Which brings clarity in all that is done!
Then your journey of life will take the right course,
Filled with joy, and the lustre of an inner force.

When intellect is steadfast, and mind in line,
The sensory horses are yours to refine.
They become servants, swift and sure,
Guiding you onward, steady and pure.

So nourish your chariot, keeping fit for the ride
And the horses in control, for journey ahead!

Sishya:

Surely, Sir, I understand the need,
For the body, healthy food and exercise to heed
But tell me, Sir, of the subtle body’s welfare
What do we do? How do nurture and care?

(To be continued….)

Mee. Ra