Control / Self Control

Most people like to have control, be in control, and enjoy the power of control.  The greater form of control, though, is self control.

To achieve self control, some believe in meditation, others in yoga and taichi etc.

In reality, even monks have to stay in monasteries far away from the entrapments of the urban life to achieve the desired level of self control.

In recent times, we read of many religious figures who succumb to the appeals of material world or to one’s own worldly desires.

Some practise chants to stop the mind from focusing on the worldly matters and shift it to more benevolent thoughts.

What I do know is this: Our mind is the seedbed where devil plants his suggestions and it is his playground. He is most active in the minds of people, conjuring up plots, fears, jealousy, suspicions, irrationality etc.

So, simply trying to practise meditation or being quiet does not build self control because outside of the tranquil environment, back to the unreasonable world, our self control gets severely tested and often cannot be sustained. Such self control is dependent on circumstances.

Fluctuating hormone levels add further challenge to maintain self control.

The most effective method to handle the ‘enemy’ of the mind is to let the Almighty in. On my own, I will not be able to get rid of satan.  But with God, in the pure light / glory, satan has to flee.

To have self control, I need to let God in.