The very reason why some of us fail to achieve our goals is to capitulate into temptations. Temptations come in several forms- can be craving for food, watching a movie or trending series, playing video games and so on. The nature of temptation is that it expertly withers away our arguments, leaving us no choice but to give in, often against our will, conscience and intelligence. Just as a soluble object when exposed to water will dissolve sooner or later, so does our will to resist dissolve when exposed to temptation repeatedly and forcefully.
Temptations are encountered by people from all sectors of work. It is not only wrong to succumb to them temptations but also irresponsible on our side. These allurements are simply meant to sway us from the path of righteousness. On careful observation, temptations are simply the cravings of the mind to seek sensual pleasures. Even before acting on temptations, one knows one mustn’t do it, yet indulge in it and later regret the act. One also feels that this is furthest one will wallow, but fail to stick to our decisions. How a no becomes a yes is so subtle that we often don’t even realize it until till it’s too late.
The number of temptations one encounters is simply the state of his/her mind. More disturbed the mind, more the temptations. So many people have succumbed to temptations and in the end ruined their lives. Temptations are like desires. One must be free from these to achieve peace and happiness.
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.
This quote from our childhood sums it up. Temptations can be dealt in two ways- Control your mind and believe in yourself that you won’t give in to these or always be busy with some task that brings benefit to you/society. This way when the mind is occupied in higher tasks, the chances of getting tempted and falling for them goes down. Rather than indulging in the interim exuberance, one must try to be exuberant at all times irrespective of the dualities.
BG 2.70
“A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires”.
Just as how the ocean level remains steady inspite of the river’s inflow, similarly one’s mind must not be disturbed by the constant flow of thoughts. If the ocean’s level would rise by the river’s flow, the world would have been flooded by now. Similarly, when one lets the thoughts and desires to overflow in our head, it drives the person crazy leaving him confused. The key is to remain balanced.
amṛtaṃ caiva mṛtyuśca dvayaṃ dehepratiṣṭhitam।
mohādupadyate mṛtyuḥ satyenopadyate’mṛtam॥Immortality and death both reside in the body.
Death comes from temptation and immortality come from the truth.-Adi Shankaracharya
It is upto you to decide which one you want to be- completely defined by your actions. Your karma can bring you utter misery or infinite happiness which is referred to here as death and immortality respectively.
Once you overcome these trivial distractions, you become a winner- spiritually as well as materially.
“The strong minded ones once having put in efforts do not turn back till they have achieved their objective”.
-Kathasaritsagara 5.3.14
