In the previous article, we set about to learn how desires could be overcome. We learnt how Shri Krishna cautions Arjun about the pitfalls of desire and the nature of the senses.

How then can we overcome desire so that the mind rests in peace for ever?

The secret lies in a very fundamental error in our judgement. Deep inside our intellect, a decision lies firmly entrenched that ‘we’ are the body. All that we associate is usually with the body or the mind. Subsequently, all that we seek as the source of happiness is material in nature because we ‘think’ that providing pleasure to the body will give us happiness.

In short, we consider the individual identity to be the body. We associate ourselves with the body and consider the ‘I’ to be this gross body. This is the fundamental error.

If we realize that the true ‘I’ is the soul, which means, ‘I am the soul and not the body’, we will automatically begin searching for happiness related to the soul. Its that simple!

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, in over 75 years of his speeches, has repeatedly mentioned this simple mistake that most of make. We associate our true identity with the body and run after the pleasures of the body.

Lord Krishna continues his very important sermon to Arjun in chapter 3, verse 42 and 43 of the ‘Bhagavad Gita‘.

Lord Krishna continues his very important sermon to Arjun in chapter 3, verse 42 and 43 of the ‘Bhagavad Gita‘.

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: ||

indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

This knowledge of the sequence of superiority amongst the senses, mind, intellect, and soul, can now be used for rooting out lust, as explained in the final verse of chapter 3.

एवं बुद्धे: परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना |
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ||

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā
jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

This is explained very beautifully in the Kaṭhopaniṣhad (1.3.3-4) with the help of the model of a chariot:

आत्मान्ँ रथिनं विद्धि शरीर्ँ रथमेव तु ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ।।

इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषया्ँ स्तेषु गोचरान् ।
आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः ।।

ātmānagvaṁ rathinaṁ viddhi śharīraṁ rathameva tu
buddhiṁ tu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva cha

indriyāṇi hayānāhurviṣhayānsteṣhu gocharān
ātmendriyamanoyuktaṁ bhoktetyāhurmanīṣhiṇaḥ

The horses can run amok if given a free hand. Disaster is imminent. In the same way, if the senses are gives total freedom, it will lead the body to no man’s land. The horses are controlled by reigns. If they run wild, they are reigned in with the ropes.

Similarly, the senses are controlled by the mind. It is the mind that wishes to see, hear, feel, touch and taste. If the mind decides against looking at an object or eating that very sweet candy, the sense organs cannot do anything but obey the command of the mind.

For ex., if you are already full in your stomach and somebody puts your favourite meal in front of you. What will be your reaction? will you devour it? most likely not.

What if the reigns are not held tight? the horses will still run wild. The charioteer is the one controls the reigns. If he is skilled and powerful, the reigns will be tight and he will lead the horses in the right direction. The chariot will automatically go on the right path.

In exactly the same way, a superior intellect controls the mind. Even if the mind runs astray, a well developed intellect will instruct the mind about the harmful effects of letting the senses go wild and prevent the mind from thinking in the wrong direction.

We have the chariot, the horses, the reigns and the charioteer. What we are missing is the passenger on the chariot. He is the silent rider at the mercy of the charioteer. Wherever the chariot goes, the passenger has to go.

So, we have a Body (Chariot), the five Senses (Horses), the Mind (Reigns) and the Intellect (Charioteer). What about the Soul?

The Soul does not perform any action but is the actual benefactor of the thoughts and actions collectively performed by the intellect, mind and the senses. Seated on this chariot, the soul (passenger) is moving around in this material world since eternity.

The purpose of existence (human body) is to reach its final destination, God. If the chariot (body) goes the wrong way, the passenger (Soul) will reach the wrong destination and will have to suffer.

On the other hand, if a body driven by the senses is controlled by a strong mind, which in turn is governed by a superior intellect, then the Soul can reach its destiny.

If the soul wakes up to its higher nature and decides to take a proactive role, it can exercise the intellect in the proper direction. The intellect will then govern the lower self—the mind and the senses—and the chariot will move in the direction of eternal welfare. In this way, the higher self (soul) must be used to control the lower self (senses, mind, and, intellect).