Slave or Master : Who Are You ?

I remember my neighbour getting angry over her wife and crying at highest pitches whenever he didn't get his lunch on time . Sometimes he also beat her in anger . I remember how an otherwise decent uncle made a mountain out of a molehill when he returned home thirsty on a scorching summer noon . Once he slapped his little son merely for asking if he had brought chocolate for him . On other occasions he would smile on it  . TV screens and newspapers are full of horrific news of murders, rapes and other crimes committed by people who are slaves of their feelings and passions .

In addition to these examples of extreme nature we see many people who are well educated and intelligent but their single occupation from morning till night seems nothing but to entertain themselves with different delicacies , drinks and sex . Their eyes glitter over any chance of getting them. They are easily bored in their absence . Such entertainments and tickling sensations are necessary to make them happy. Happiness seems to be an occasional episode in their general drama of pain . It is because the sources of their pleasures are temporary by nature and not without side effects. We know that excessive use anything is bad . Indiscriminate use of delicacies cause diseases .The widespread prevalence of diabetes, BP , gastric disorders takes its root in this mindless food habit and  lifestyle . We also see people destroying their health and life with the overuse of alcohol and drugs. Who doesn't know that these things are injurious to our health. Even then people indulge in such things just for short pleasures. Uncontrolled and careless indulgences have caused a great damage to the relations , peace and life of the millions of people from ages . It is not a secret .

Now the question is why people destroy their life.  If a person acts on his own , will he do anything which may harm himself? Let us find its answer. 

Let us look at the issue from a very practical point of view. We have heard the words slave and master in common conversations. A slave is someone who is bound to follow the orders from others and cannot use his own mind to question their validity and usefulness. If we follow all the orders and urges of our senses and are unable to resist them , we are no better than a slave . The only difference is that we don't realise that our own senses and desires are acting against us. An enemy in the guise of a friend. Our desire for sensual pleasures is insatiable and ever growing . It's in no one's power to satisfy them fully . Hence putting a wise curb is the only way out. Senses are the most notorious predators . They never let their prey stay at rest .

A master is someone who controls the other things and is not himself controlled by anything. He can control his senses and undue desires with wisdom .He is not tempted to the unending chain of activities to satiate his desires. He knows the nature of the desires and will not be fooled .

Now it's up to us what we want to be . If we want to become a slave and live a life of endless suffering , it's easy . The majority is already in the trap . If we want to be a master it needs a little awareness and practice . We must look at the feelings and thoughts, emotions and desires always popping in our minds and hearts from distance. We must look at them as something other than ourselves. Then we will be able to behave with them properly. The truth is that we are all born masters . God has created us in his own image. The only need is to realize our true nature and reach the perennial source of happiness within ourselves.