Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 76

RESTRAINT OF WANTONNESS
and the mind. The soul is so much addicted to the mind, senses, and evil company that it has absolutely no idea of the utter loss of its independence.
However we are extremely lucky, that with the grace of pious and learned saint, we can defeat this wantonness with great effort and diligence. This will lead the soul to understand and experience its own bliss.
PRACTICE OF CONTROL OF WANTONNESS
For properly controlling wantonness, two things are required; Right Knowledge and Right Preaching.
Let us question ourselves Can we be really happy by wanton behavior? Or is wantonness the real means to be happy? Thinking even from the social point of view, good social order and peace cannot be established by fostering wantonness. The whole society would suffer from anarchy, distress, disquiet and lack of order, if it fails to adopt certain good and moral rules of conduct and a righteous way of life. One should, under the circumstances, think of the likely consequences of such conduct at the individual level as well.
Thinking from the spiritual point of view, we should concede that what is right at the family and social level, is also true at the individual level. No individual would be happy by becoming slave of his mind, five senses, and behaving in a wanton manner. Considered from any viewpoint, one who behaves unrighteously is unhappy, his mind is restless and his personality bewildered, frightened, and dissatisfied. We should therefore be convinced that the happiness and peace cannot be attained by wanton behavior.
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Once we are convinced that wantonness is the root of all sufferings, it now becomes necessary to consider the ways and means through which it can be controlled.
For this, our conduct should be guided by the right type of discrimination. Let us follow the sublime and just teachings of those great saints of ancient and modern times who have acquired genuine happiness and peace. Let us associate ourselves with them, wherever possible. Slowly but surely this brings about the developmental and sublimating change in our life, so that several good virtues become manifest in us. Once this is achieved,
SWACHHAND-NIRODHA
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