Excessive stimulation of senses is detrimental to spiritual progress. Abstinence and moderation are pre-requisites for brining peace to the mind.
‘Ingesting’ less of sense-inputs is spiritually uplifting.1 This probably applies to all sense inputs. Some examples that stand out in terms of benefits they offer include:
- Eat moderately and less (without harming health).
- Avoid very spicy food.
- Avoid noise and loud music.
- Avoid discretionary screen-time (especially videos and movies).
- Avoid constant interruptions.
Exceptions could include sense-inputs that are mild in intensity and potentially spiritually uplifting. e.g. visiting a place of worship. Listening to an inspiring talk… etc.
Reframed, this is saying that when our life gets filled with intense sense-inputs, the mind gets so fired up that it becomes temporarily incapable of achieving peace. For it to get back into a peaceful state, the senses need to be quietened. And this quietening comes from sense abstinence. Meditation and yogic breathing (pranayam) help.
So, each time there’s a discretionary opportunity to consume something through the senses, it’s wise to ‘let it be’.
Footnotes:
1: Note: by sense inputs, I mean experiences that stimulate one or more of the following senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Examples of intense sense-inputs include:
- Sight: binge watching videos.
- Hearing: listening to loud music or to intense music for some time.
- Taste: spicy or pungent foods.
Recommended Reading
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