55. The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali
By the proper practice of pratyhara, your senses come fully under your control. They become obedient horses, taking you wherever you want. You become a complete master over them.
We shouldn’t think we lose anything by avoiding sensual pleasures.
If our senses try to pull us somewhere we should feel, “No; I’m not going to satisfy you.”
Although we might feel a little tension at first, it is just momentary.
After that we’ll really feel proud: “Ah, I have gained some mastery.”
If we satisfy the senses, we might feel momentary pleasure followed by a greater dejection afterward.
The happiness we can receive by mastery lasts longer than temporary joys. We should all become masters. That is true freedom and real victory. If you are free from your own mind and senses, nothing can bind you; then you are really free. Even imperial power, even dictatorship, can never bind you. You are not afraid on anything.
This isn’t the birthright of just a few people. It is everyone’s. But we should build up our mastery, never allowing the mind to fall back. If we have that control, we can do whatever we want, find peace and joy within and share the same with all humanity.