Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya!

Paramacharya continues, we have to learn to control the swiftness of thoughts, the practice of  Yoga is the medicine for control over thoughts, it should be reachable for all those people who are suffering from the illnesses, therefore we have to thoroughly understand the fact that Yoga is not only meant for Rishis or ascetics, it is meant for all common people like us.  Lord Krishna who symbolizes Yoga, has perfect control over his senses, like our preceptors.  Our illustrious Yogis Vidhyaranya and Sri SadhashivaBhramendhral recommend two powerful instruments that are internal and external to control our thoughts.   These two tools are the performance of charities, the performance of spiritual and religious rites of Swadharma, sun worship, the performance of fire sacrifices, recitation of Veda,  and help people who are suffering from poverty and distress if we engage our mind in doing any of these practices it will become serene.  You can see collective efforts in the practice of spiritual and religious rites, a number of people contribute physically as well as financial help in the performance of various tasks like initial preparation for spiritual rites, and these are the tools to bring perfect control over senses.  A person without control over senses is equivalent to an untamed elephant. Our mind has the power of an elephant; if it has no control it will be of no use.  We have heard about Sage Vishwamithra and Lord Anjaneya who had won over senses, that is why they have immense strength, we also have the same intellect, but we often neglect the usage of it.  Vedanta describes the whole Universe and its living beings were created by the intellect, once we controlled our intellect with intense practice of meditation and Yoga, afterward it will start to obey our commands, hence the important limb of Yoga is the practice of non-violence.  Manusmrithi, as well as Yogashasthra, persistently says non- violence as the essential requirement for achieving control over senses.  Every pious deed has endless merits, which involuntarily follows the primary deed, we are visiting Mutt to pay obeisance to a preceptor and witness spiritual rites, in between we get the opportunity to see numerous Veda Pundits and scholars, ascetics, happens to listen to religious discourses and music etc… these are called Avantharaprayojana.  The practice of non-violence with the Thrikarana/mind, deed, and words gives purity of intellect.  It is one of the greatest weapons to maintain peace in the family as well as in society.