During a class with Kaustubha das the example of the horse and chariot as a metaphor of the body and soul was given.
“Five sense organs are the horses and mind is the rein. All the objects of senses, various enjoyments are the different path through which the horses work. If you have good control over the horses by the rein, that means you have got good control over the senses, then you can drive fast in the shortest possible path and can reach your destination quickly, without any accident. If your horses are beyond control then there will be accident, injury, delay and suffering.” Kriya Joga
Further more, the mind is the charioteer and the chariot- our body; in it sits our soul. To make sure our soul is in the right direction, we have to align all the different parts of this experience. Kaustubha das said that you start with the senses because: ‘The senses are the easiest to control.’ THE EASIEST??? THE EASIEST??? Just give me pets and good food, just make my senses happy and I am yours! THE EASIEST???
But there is an answer, or at least a place to start from. When our body, senses or mind are idle, they look for other things to do… or are the saying goes: “Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools.” This is why we have yoga, if you keep your body and senses active in a focused way through the practice of asana, and the mind through meditation, you will learn how to control and focus them.
Pratyahara, the fifth of the Eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga is a challenging one, again, the restriction, or withdrawal of the senses is such a difficult concept to grasp. When we learned about Pratyahara in my teachers training, one of my fellow students turned to me, and said very incessantly (and slightly frightened) but why? Why not enjoy our senses? My simple answer is that you need to make decisions based on a true understanding of the nature of the situation you face, when you are influenced so strongly by addictive senses of pleasure (or pain) it is hard to make that decision. Pleasure and pain (as well as other senses) should be taken part of consideration, but not hijack the decision making process.
I will end with a wonderful description of Pratyahara by SwamiJ: “The senses are said to follow the mind in the same way the hive of bees follows the queen bee. Wherever she goes, they will follow. Similarly, if the mind truly goes inward, the senses will come racing behind.”
“Five sense organs are the horses and mind is the rein. All the objects of senses, various enjoyments are the different path through which the horses work. If you have good control over the horses by the rein, that means you have got good control over the senses, then you can drive fast in the shortest possible path and can reach your destination quickly, without any accident. If your horses are beyond control then there will be accident, injury, delay and suffering.” Kriya Joga
Further more, the mind is the charioteer and the chariot- our body; in it sits our soul. To make sure our soul is in the right direction, we have to align all the different parts of this experience. Kaustubha das said that you start with the senses because: ‘The senses are the easiest to control.’ THE EASIEST??? THE EASIEST??? Just give me pets and good food, just make my senses happy and I am yours! THE EASIEST???
But there is an answer, or at least a place to start from. When our body, senses or mind are idle, they look for other things to do… or are the saying goes: “Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools.” This is why we have yoga, if you keep your body and senses active in a focused way through the practice of asana, and the mind through meditation, you will learn how to control and focus them.
Pratyahara, the fifth of the Eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga is a challenging one, again, the restriction, or withdrawal of the senses is such a difficult concept to grasp. When we learned about Pratyahara in my teachers training, one of my fellow students turned to me, and said very incessantly (and slightly frightened) but why? Why not enjoy our senses? My simple answer is that you need to make decisions based on a true understanding of the nature of the situation you face, when you are influenced so strongly by addictive senses of pleasure (or pain) it is hard to make that decision. Pleasure and pain (as well as other senses) should be taken part of consideration, but not hijack the decision making process.
I will end with a wonderful description of Pratyahara by SwamiJ: “The senses are said to follow the mind in the same way the hive of bees follows the queen bee. Wherever she goes, they will follow. Similarly, if the mind truly goes inward, the senses will come racing behind.”
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