Your first step toward building sturdy senses begins with careful observation. The easiest way to observe your five senses is to zero-in on them in a situation that challenges and over-amplifies the sensory streaming of input into your brain. For some people, the noise and bustle of the crowds at the mall can send them running for the exit. However, on other days, those same people can enjoy the excitement of the mall. It was the sturdiness of their senses on that particular day that determined their reactions to the crowds of shoppers.
As you advance, you will also notice that your senses can vary with increasing or diminishing sensitivity and susceptibility. On days when your senses are overwhelmed, it is not because you are physically ill, but rather because your senses were not sturdy enough to handle all of the external stimulation. You can instantly see this connection in the faces of young children overwhelmed with sensory stimulation. Both you and the children can learn how to fortify your senses so that you are not upset by clamor and commotion.
Gaining mastery over this aspect of your mind will provide you with the freedom to focus on the most important aspects of your day and minimize the risk of feeling overwhelmed. Sturdy senses are necessary in order to live your life fully engaged and fully present in every moment.
Bolstering your senses requires self-study. You need to understand how your mind works and how external data can ruin your day. Potentially troubling data may arise from emails, cable news shows, local gossip and common misunderstandings. When you let this external information stream in through your senses unedited and un-inspected, it muddles the purity and quiet of your mind. Like any unorganized basement or attic, your mind soon becomes filled with a hodgepodge of worldly stuff. Organized or unorganized, your mental contents constantly influence your choices, opinions and reactions. Sturdy senses act as gates and turnstiles that allow for an orderly flow of edited information to enter the privacy of your mind.
As you study your senses , you realize that there are two key players that affect the sorting of sensory data: the buddhi (conscienc ) and ahamkara (your ego). Your buddhi is the pure part of yourself that always gives accurate information and feedback. Your ego is the part of yourself that is always looking out for you and is concerned with self-preservation and identity. Any threat to your reputation or image is devastating to the ego. The key to having sturdy senses is to utilize your buddhi more than your ego. The buddhi only grasps what is helpful and useful and discards the useless parts. The ego, on the other hand, grasps information that is attractive and captivating, but may not be helpful in any way.
The battle between ego and buddhi is best explained in the following example. Someone might call you a bad name and your ego might retain that information in your awareness for days, weeks or even years. Such a "bad memory" may then alter your actions and contaminate your compassion. However, with a trained buddhi, when you are called that bad name, your buddhi will discard that information as unwanted and useless. You will never recall those bad words again, and thus your actions and compassion are not halted by someone's rudeness.
The more you employ the talents of your buddhi and ignore the noise of the ego , the stronger and sturdier your senses will be. When your mind no longer stores useless fancies for the ego, you will always be guided in the correct direction. This ability will become an invaluable asset in your life that cannot be revoked by anyone or anything.
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