Page 14 - Courage Redifined

The needs of the body and senses are insatiable. How much
ever food and pleasures you give it, it’s hunger will never
die. The more you give, the more it demands. Isn't this the
soul’s trouble ?

Before succumbing to temptations, Kamlata could have
thought, “The King has become blind in lust and has forgotten
the noble virtues of a human. He has become like a donkey
who has his eyes only on skin and flesh. But why should I
become blind ? Why force such misdeeds on this noble body ?
The body and senses are like a tigress which goes wild on
licking blood.

If a human had to get roasted in the dreadful hunger of the
body and senses, then wasn't he better off in the births of
donkeys and pigs ? Why waste such a precious birth for such
heinous acts ?
Inspite of the King’s tempting offers, my character should
remain pure. I do not want to become a slave of my senses and
be troubled. If I remain courageous and determined to suppress
my temptations, then I will have no trouble or sorrow. On the
contrary, I will experience immense happiness experienced by
the Mahasatis of the past. Compared to that happiness, sensual
pleasures do not give even 10% of happiness.

The insatiable desire for sensual pleasure is the soul’s greatest
sorrow. Day and night without any limitations, the body and
mind will keep on demanding these material pleasures and
the soul will eventually become its slave. All the virtuous and
benevolent acts will be lost. This increasing desire for sensual
pleasures is the greatest sorrow, greatest misdeed and a big
trouble. I do not want this.

In this precious birth when I can distinguish between the right
and wrong with the help of the inner eye, should I close this
eye and become blind ? In the births of animals, I did not

4 Courage Redefined