Self-Discipline

One should raise the self by the self; one should not let the self fall. The self alone is the self's friend; the self alone is the self's enemy.

The senses are said to be the horses, the sense-objects the roads they travel. The wise call the Self joined with sense and mind the enjoyer.

Dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, with speech, body, and mind restrained, ever absorbed in the yoga of meditation, established in detachment —

Endowed with a purified intellect, governing the self with steady resolve, abandoning the objects of sense beginning with sound, casting away passion and aversion —

Tranquility, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forbearance, uprightness, knowledge, direct understanding, and faith in the divine — these are the naturally born duties of a brahmana.

But that steadfastness by which one holds fast to righteousness, pleasure, and wealth out of attachment, with constant craving for their fruits — that steadfastness, O Partha, is rajasic.

That steadfastness by which one upholds the activities of the mind, the life-force, and the senses through unswerving yoga practice — that steadfastness, O Partha, is sattvic.

The Blessed Lord said: Without doubt, O mighty-armed one, the mind is difficult to restrain and fickle. Yet it is brought under hold through practice and through dispassion, O son of Kunti.

Whenever the restless, unsteady mind wanders away — from each and every such direction one should rein it back and bring it under the sovereignty of the self alone.

The self is a friend to that person by whom the self has been conquered through the self. For one who has not conquered the self, the self behaves as an enemy.

One who has not turned from wrong conduct, who is not calm, not collected in mind, not tranquil in heart — such a one cannot attain the Self even by wisdom.

But one who is wise, with a mind ever disciplined — whose senses are well-controlled, like the good horses of a skilled charioteer.

Both the good and the pleasant approach a person. The wise one examines them and discerns the difference. The wise chooses the good over the pleasant; the dull chooses the pleasant for comfort and ease.

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of inner being — these together are called the austerity of the mind.

For one who is moderate in eating and recreation, balanced in exertion in actions, and regular in sleep and waking — yoga becomes the destroyer of suffering.

Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who fasts entirely; it is not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who is always awake, O Arjuna.

They call this yoga — the firm holding of the senses. One must then be vigilant, for yoga comes and goes.

But one who is wise, ever mindful and pure — that person reaches the final goal from which one is never born again.

But one who lacks wisdom, with a mind ever undisciplined — whose senses are unruly like the restive horses of a poor charioteer.

That threefold austerity practised with highest faith by persons of discipline, without desire for fruit — that is called sattvic.