- DAMA
The first of the three Beejaksharas, DA,DA,DA, refers to DAMA. Let us first understand what DAMA means. It means control or restraint. We have heard about the story of Bharata, the son of King Dushyanta. When Bharata was very young, he used to catch hold of lions, bend their heads and count the teeth in the mouth. That is why he is known as ‘Simha Damana,’ one who brought lions under his control.
But here in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad the term DAMA is not used in the sense of ‘bringing someone under control,’ be that a tiger or a lion or an enemy. But it is used in the sense of self-control or, to be precise, bringing under control the senses and the mind which are more dangerous than the wild animals or the external enemies.
In what way are the sense organs and the mind our enemies when they gratify and give us pleasure? How are they dangerous? Anybody can ask questions like these. They are not our enemies as long as we use them moderately for our benefit. But by nature the mind and the sense organs do not get gratified easily.
When we pour ghee into fire, instead of quenching it, the ghee adds to the blazing of fire. In the same way, as we gratify the senses by meeting their desires, instead of feeling satisfied, the senses demand more and more of their gratification. They do not feel satisfied at all. For example, when we start eating some sweets, we are overtaken by the urge to eat more and more. By overeating sweets, many people fall sick. It is the same with those who have developed the habit of betting on horses. When they lose everything, they do not stop betting. On the other hand, they borrow money from others and go on betting. The obsession never leaves them. They are unable to free themselves from the urge.
A majority of those who have suffered heavy losses in life happen to be those who are under the grip of their sense organs. If the enemy is outside, we can be vigilant. The senses, being the enemy within, are more dangerous. It is indeed very difficult to bring them under control.
The happiness we experience through the senses is not permanent. Everyone wants to enjoy the objects of the senses. Being limited in scope and number, there is a lot of competition among people to appropriate them. They go to the extent of fighting for them. The objects too are impermanent. When one is seized of the passion to obtain them, one may go to any extent and adopt any bad means to obtain them. The sorrow that ensues is difficult to bear. In the beginning, these sense objects seem to give great pleasure, but ultimately they bring untold sorrow and suffering, beyond one’s ability to bear. On other hand, self-control or DAMA looks difficult to acquire in the beginning but when once it is gained, it brings immense joy that is permanent. The joy the self-control brings is not dependent on any external objects. There is an ocean of joy within us. Without understanding it, we desperately go after a few drops of joy from outside. Moreover, one who has gained control over his senses gains the friendship of one and all.
(to be continued)
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