This soul is like a man who has five wives - the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin. These are also known as the jñānendriyas, the sense organs of knowledge. There are also five karmendriyas - the organs of action, such as the hands and feet - but those poor things do not trouble you. These five are "co-wives."
Why are they called co-wives and not sisters?
Because these five lead the soul in different directions. Their domains and subjects are all different, and each of them makes its own demands:
- The eye says, "I will only be satisfied by seeing beautiful forms. Only then will I experience happiness."
- The ear insists, "Do not listen to the eye. Listen to sweet words and melodious sounds. Only then will I experience happiness."
- The tongue declares, "Do not listen to either of them. Give me delicious food to taste."
- Similarly, the nose says, "Give me fragrant things. Do not give me foul smells."
- The skin demands, "Give me pleasant touch - soft beds to sleep on, every touch should be delightful."
The objects that cater to these senses are infinite. Even if a person wanted to fulfill all their demands, they could not. For example, the eyes desire to see - but there are infinite universes. There are countless unique and wonderful creations, each surpassing the other, but how far can you see? In Brahma's creation, there are many things beyond the understanding of intellect - things that even today scientists have not been able to comprehend. They have conducted extensive research, yet they are still incorrect. Research that is considered the ultimate truth today is later disproved when further research is conducted. They then say, "Oh, this turned out to be wrong." A great deal of research has been conducted, and it continues to evolve. They have not reached the ultimate end, nor can they, because the ultimate end is God. And below God is nature - no one can even reach that far.
But the thirst for seeing, eating, and smelling increases with the sense objects; it does not decrease. The senses have not understood this even in infinite births. The more objects you give them, the more their thirst increases - this is a disease. It is like pouring ghee on a burning fire to extinguish it, without realizing that the fire will only grow stronger - bhūya evābhivartate.
These co-wives have made the soul wander and cry through 8.4 million life forms. Kati nāma sutā na lālitā - How many mothers, fathers, sons, and husbands have you had! You forget them all, and when you take birth again, you again desire to have a father, son, sister, and all other worldly relations - this is a strange disease. The very thing that first gives happiness later begins to give sorrow. You have seen, heard, smelled, and touched infinite objects - yet the understanding has not dawned that this is an illusion, mere deception. Even after suffering sorrow countless times, detachment has not arisen.
The influence of Māyā will go on when, after wandering endlessly, you rarely -
Bhramite bhramite yadi sādhu vaidya pāya
Tāra upadeśa mantre pisācī pālāya -
Find a genuine 'śrotriya Brahmaniṣṭha' saint who explains to you, "Look, think about what you are receiving. Wake up from sleep - utthiṣṭhata jāgrata!" However, your task will not end simply by hearing what the Guru says - you must wake up, rise, and act. Many people are under the delusion that if they find a real guru, then everything will be accomplished. You can indeed achieve your ultimate goal only through the Guru, but not by the Guru alone. Sadguru vaidya vacana viśvāsā - you must place complete faith in his words. Only then will you achieve your goal. It will not happen by taking the approach of "some of yours and some of mine" - meaning accepting some of what the Guru says and following some of your own mind - it will not work like that.
Even in the world, you do not exercise your intellect in this way - for instance, when you go to the bank, you first deposit the money, then they count it and give you a receipt. They do not give you the receipt first. You trust the teller and give him the money without thinking that he may cheat you. In the world, too, nothing works without trust. But leave aside what the saints say - even after experiencing the world countless times, you do not turn back toward God. If you experience great trouble, sorrow, or insult, then you may take a right turn. But after some time, you turn back toward the world again.
Therefore, if it ever happens that you get the association of a Sadguru Vaidya (a true Guru, who is the spiritual physician) and also develop vacana viśvāsā - faith in his words - then if he tells you to keep chanting "mara mara" until I return, you would just say, "Yes, Guruji." You will not ask, "When will you return?" - No! You do not have the right to ask this. So, just follow whatever instructions the Guru gives. Do not think in solitude, "What will happen by merely saying 'mara mara'?" - Do not follow "some of mine"
Just like an electrician working in a power house, he works very carefully among thousands of wires. If, by mistake, he touches even one wire, he will die. In the same way, only by exactly following the Guru's instructions without exercising your own intellect can you achieve your ultimate goal.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
Unveiling the Saints - English
Who am I? Who is Mine? - English
This soul is like a man who has five wives - the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin. These are also known as the jñānendriyas, the sense organs of knowledge. There are also five karmendriyas - the organs of action, such as the hands and feet - but those poor things do not trouble you. These five are "co-wives."
Why are they called co-wives and not sisters?
Because these five lead the soul in different directions. Their domains and subjects are all different, and each of them makes its own demands:
The objects that cater to these senses are infinite. Even if a person wanted to fulfill all their demands, they could not. For example, the eyes desire to see - but there are infinite universes. There are countless unique and wonderful creations, each surpassing the other, but how far can you see? In Brahma's creation, there are many things beyond the understanding of intellect - things that even today scientists have not been able to comprehend. They have conducted extensive research, yet they are still incorrect. Research that is considered the ultimate truth today is later disproved when further research is conducted. They then say, "Oh, this turned out to be wrong." A great deal of research has been conducted, and it continues to evolve. They have not reached the ultimate end, nor can they, because the ultimate end is God. And below God is nature - no one can even reach that far.
But the thirst for seeing, eating, and smelling increases with the sense objects; it does not decrease. The senses have not understood this even in infinite births. The more objects you give them, the more their thirst increases - this is a disease. It is like pouring ghee on a burning fire to extinguish it, without realizing that the fire will only grow stronger - bhūya evābhivartate.
These co-wives have made the soul wander and cry through 8.4 million life forms. Kati nāma sutā na lālitā - How many mothers, fathers, sons, and husbands have you had! You forget them all, and when you take birth again, you again desire to have a father, son, sister, and all other worldly relations - this is a strange disease. The very thing that first gives happiness later begins to give sorrow. You have seen, heard, smelled, and touched infinite objects - yet the understanding has not dawned that this is an illusion, mere deception. Even after suffering sorrow countless times, detachment has not arisen.
The influence of Māyā will go on when, after wandering endlessly, you rarely -
Bhramite bhramite yadi sādhu vaidya pāya
Tāra upadeśa mantre pisācī pālāya -
Find a genuine 'śrotriya Brahmaniṣṭha' saint who explains to you, "Look, think about what you are receiving. Wake up from sleep - utthiṣṭhata jāgrata!" However, your task will not end simply by hearing what the Guru says - you must wake up, rise, and act. Many people are under the delusion that if they find a real guru, then everything will be accomplished. You can indeed achieve your ultimate goal only through the Guru, but not by the Guru alone. Sadguru vaidya vacana viśvāsā - you must place complete faith in his words. Only then will you achieve your goal. It will not happen by taking the approach of "some of yours and some of mine" - meaning accepting some of what the Guru says and following some of your own mind - it will not work like that.
Even in the world, you do not exercise your intellect in this way - for instance, when you go to the bank, you first deposit the money, then they count it and give you a receipt. They do not give you the receipt first. You trust the teller and give him the money without thinking that he may cheat you. In the world, too, nothing works without trust. But leave aside what the saints say - even after experiencing the world countless times, you do not turn back toward God. If you experience great trouble, sorrow, or insult, then you may take a right turn. But after some time, you turn back toward the world again.
Therefore, if it ever happens that you get the association of a Sadguru Vaidya (a true Guru, who is the spiritual physician) and also develop vacana viśvāsā - faith in his words - then if he tells you to keep chanting "mara mara" until I return, you would just say, "Yes, Guruji." You will not ask, "When will you return?" - No! You do not have the right to ask this. So, just follow whatever instructions the Guru gives. Do not think in solitude, "What will happen by merely saying 'mara mara'?" - Do not follow "some of mine"
Just like an electrician working in a power house, he works very carefully among thousands of wires. If, by mistake, he touches even one wire, he will die. In the same way, only by exactly following the Guru's instructions without exercising your own intellect can you achieve your ultimate goal.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
Unveiling the Saints - English
Who am I? Who is Mine? - English
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