While intuitively we all know that we must master our senses to advance spiritually, it is interesting to know the view point of our scriptures like Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita says we have 5 organs of perception (eye, ear, nose, tongue and skin) and there are 5 sense objects (which give out colour, sound, smell, taste and touch). These sense objects are discussed at length at various places with the terminology as मात्रा, विषय, गोचर, इन्द्रियार्थ.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु:खदाः |
आगमापायिनोऽनित्याः तांस्तितीक्षस्व भारत || 2.14
The sense organs when they come in contact with their respective sense objects gives rise to feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain in us which are transient in nature. These feelings come and go and are not permanent. Says Lord Krishna “O Arjuna (Bharat) ! just bear & tolerate it ( तितीक्षस्व ) “.
Our mind ponders over the inputs received through the sense organs and we respond with one of the organs of action (hand, legs, mouth, reproductory and excretory).
So how should we be leading our life with the sense organs doing their job is beautifully explained in the following two verses where Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna how to be स्थितप्रज्ञ and develop stability of mind.
तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः |
इन्द्रियानीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 2.68
Whose sense organs are completely restrained from their sense object, his mind attains stability. It is not external restraint but internal understanding and calmness which is spoken by Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna further elaborates on this by explaining the desired state which one should seek to achieve.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी |
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः || 2.69
That which is night to all living beings, in that state the yogi is awake. During the day when the living beings are awake, that is night for the yogi. The deeper meaning is that just like during the night when the senses do not perceive their objects, in that state the yogi exists. A state of dispassion where though being amongst the sense objects, being indifferent to their impact is advocated.
