Know the Atman as the Lord, body as the chariot, know the intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as verily the reins.
The very famous chariot metaphor, which appears in the Kathopanishad, got prominence in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 1, verse 14. In the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Gita was imparted in the chariot by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the middle of two armies.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदघ्मतुः ॥ 14 ॥
titan śvētairhayairyuktē mahati syandanē sthitau ।
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaśchaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradaghmatuḥ ॥
Thus, seated in a magnificent chariot yoked in white horses, Madhava and Pandava also blew their divine conches.
The analogy of Chariot:
ATMAN – LORD OF THE CHARIOT
BODY – CHARIOT
5 SENSES – 5 HORSES
REINS – MIND
CHARIOTEER – INTELLECT / LORD KRISHNA / PARTHASARTHY
ARJUNA / PARTHA – STATE OF MIND
BATTLEFIELD – WORLD
PANDAVAS AND KAURAVAS – GOOD AND BAD / UPS AND DOWNS
KURUKSHETRA – WAR – CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
DHARMAKSHETRA – ABSOLUTE STATE – GOAL
Q: Reins are equated to mind and is the control mechanism. So, does mind control or intellect controls the senses?
A: The subtle controls the gross.
Subtle to gross:
Intellect mind senses sense objects
Intellect controls the senses through the mind. Intellect has no direct connection to the senses. When the mind is under control, invariably the senses are under control. Soon, Lord Yama explains the importance of the buddhi Intellect. The language of the Upanishads is brevity and this Upanishad talks elaborately on buddhi. One has to develop the buddhi to control the mind. You can develop the intellect only by manana reflection between 4 am and 6 am, the sattvic hour, and the result is sattvic intellect. One has to churn the knowledge and extract the wisdom.
You can have command over the horses only through the reins. When you let loose the reins, horses run helter-skelter. The moment you pull the reins, they halt. When you want the horses to move in the direction you want, you let loose the reins and yet have enough grip over them. This is the middle path.
Middle Path at various levels:
| Level | Sattva | Rajas | Tamas |
|
Material |
One can be rich but not gaudy. Use the wealth for larger good. Be rich, not gaudy | Ostentatious display of wealth | Rich but choose a miserly life |
|
Sense contact |
Can be in the midst of sense objects with an avenue to indulgence and yet have total control over the senses | Reckless
indulgence |
Abstain completely |
|
Mental |
To have emotions and yet not be emotional | Completely attached and emotional | Become dry devoid of emotions |
|
Intellectual |
Get into the depth of study and reflection. Develops Wisdom & Intellect | Voracious reader. Length of study and is merely intelligent. | Do not read at all |
|
Spiritual |
Introvert. Essentials of religion which is Atma vidya. | Extrovert. Non-essentials of religion – Mechanical rituals, superstitious beliefs, blind faith | Indifferent |
It is the ability of the intellect to be able to have total mastery over the senses. You can have control only through the reins, which is the mind. If you really want to measure your level of wisdom, it is your ability to control your mind. This shows how strong your intellect is. Do not measure your intellect in the areas of your strength; measure it in the areas of your weaknesses.
Thus, one can lead a middle path in material, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels categorised under tamasic, rajasic, and sattvic aspects of your personality. Only with Knowledge & Wisdom you will be able to lead the middle path.
