Hunter Teaches Control of the Senses

The hunter had finished explaining the five elements and their fifteen qualities. Now he turned to what it meant for a living person — for someone with ears that hear, eyes that see, a tongue that tastes, a body that touches. "Everything about heaven and hell," he said, "is based on our senses. When restrained, they lead to heaven. When uncontrolled, they lead to hell." He stated it plainly: the subjugation of the senses is the key to yoga (discipline and union). It is the root of austerities. It is also the root of hell. By indulging in the senses, there is no doubt that one reaps sin. But by bringing them under control, one can attain salvation. "If one can control these six in one's soul," the hunter said — meaning the five senses plus the mind — "one never suffers a decline, and one is not visited by sin or calamity. One has then conquered one's senses." Then he gave the brahmana an image to hold. "It has been seen that a man's body is like a chariot. The senses are like horses, and the soul controls them. When these good horses are skilfully controlled, one is self-controlled and happy, like a steady charioteer." He repeated the image to make it stick. When the six senses are always controlled in the soul, one is like a supreme and steady charioteer, wielding the reins in one's hand. When the senses are uncontrolled — like horses bolting on a road — the charioteer must steadily rein them in. And it is certain that victory will be achieved. But there was a warning too. "If the mind is overpowered by these senses running wild, one loses one's intelligence, like a boat tossed on water by the wind." The brahmana sat in silence, holding the image: the chariot, the horses, the reins, the wind, the boat. "One who perseveres steadily on these six," the hunter said, "and is not deluded about outcomes and fruit — concentrating on the insight of learning — reaps the fruits that are the outcome of his meditation."