78. Disciplining the Senses
A desire filled Tulsidas was desperate to meet his newlywed wife. He crossed a river at night mistaking a corpse to be a wooden log; used a snake as a rope to climb up the wall to meet his wife, only to be rebuked by her that he would be better off with an equal passion for Lord Rama. He was transformed at that very moment, and he went on to author the revered ‘ Ram Charit Manas ’. Tulsi’s story helps us better comprehend Krishna’s advice to destroy desire by disciplining the senses (3.41). Desire has two aspects. The first is the energy of courage, determination and passion that is generated in us and the second is its direction. Outwardly directed, it is dissipated in seeking sensual pleasures and possessions. When Krishna asks us to destroy desires, he doesn’t want us to destroy this energy, but advises us to direct it inwards, like Tulsidas. This energy is essential for the spiritual journey, like a satellite needing energy from its rockets to reach orbit. Once one r...