{"id":4337,"date":"2013-07-13T01:55:17","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4337"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:55:17","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:55:17","slug":"15-self-control-vol-02-words-of-long-ago-volume-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/02-words-of-long-ago-volume-02\/15-self-control-vol-02-words-of-long-ago-volume-02","title":{"rendered":"-15_Self-Control.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\nPart    7<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nTales of all Times<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

                                         These stories were
\nwritten to help children to discover themselves and follow a path of right and
\nbeauty. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The Mother <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

February 1950 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

 <\/span>One <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n


\nSelf-Control <\/font> <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00a0<\/span>A <\/font> <\/span>wild horse can
\nbe tamed but one never puts a bridle on a tiger. Why is that? Because in the
\ntiger there is a wicked, cruel and incorrigible force, so that we cannot expect
\nanything good from him and have to destroy him to prevent him from doing harm. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>But
\nthe wild horse, on the other hand, however unmanageable and skittish he may be
\nto begin with, can be controlled with a little effort and patience. In time he
\nlearns to obey and even to love us, and in the end he will of his own accord
\noffer his mouth to the bit that is given to him. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\nmen too there are rebellious and unmanageable desires and impulses, but these
\nthings are rarely uncontrollable like the tiger. They are more often like the
\nwild horse: to be broken in they need a bridle; and the best bridle is the one
\nyou put on them yourself, the one called self-control. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Hussein was the grandson of the Prophet
\nMohammed. His home was beautiful and his purse well filled. Whoever offended
\nhim offended a rich man, and heavy is the anger of the rich. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>One
\nday a slave carrying a bowl of boiling hot water was passing by Hussein as he
\ndined. By misfortune a little water fell upon the grandson of the Prophet who
\nlet out a cry of rage. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Falling to his knees, the slave had the
\npresence of mind to recall an appropriate verse of the Koran: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cParadise is for those who bridle their
\nanger,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI
\nam not angry,\u201d broke in Hussein, touched by these words. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026and for those who forgive men,\u201d continued
\nthe slave. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI
\nforgive you,\u201d said Hussein. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026for Allah loves the merciful,\u201d the servant
\nadded. <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 169<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\nthe course of this exchange, all Hussein’s anger had vanished. Now wholly at
\npeace with himself he made the slave rise and said: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFrom now on you are free. Here, take these
\nfour hundred pieces of silver.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\nthis way Hussein learnt how to bridle his temper which was as generous as it
\nwas hasty. Since his noble character was neither wicked nor cruel, it was
\nworthy of being controlled. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>So
\nif your parents or your teacher sometimes urge you to control your nature, it
\nis not because they think that your faults, whether great or small, are
\nincorrigible; but, on the contrary, it is because they know that your quick and
\nfiery spirit is like a young thoroughbred which must be held in check.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>If
\nyou were offered the choice of living in a sordid hut or in a palace, which
\nwould you choose? The palace, most likely. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>We
\nare told that when Lord Mohammed visited Paradise, he saw great palaces built
\non a height overlooking the entire countryside. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cO
\nGabriel,\u201d said Mohammed to the angel who was showing him all these things, \u201cfor
\nwhom are these palaces?\u201d The angel replied: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor those who control their anger and know
\nhow to forgive offences.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Well, a mind at peace and free from rancour<\/span> is indeed like a palace, but not so a vindictive
\nand turbulent mind. Our thought is a dwelling-place that we can, if we choose,
\nmake clean, sweet and serene, full of harmonious notes; but we can also make it
\ninto a dark and dreadful lair filled with mournful sounds and discordant cries.
\n <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 170<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\na town in the North of France I once knew a boy who was frank by nature but
\nimpetuous and always liable to lose his temper. I said to him one day: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhich do you think is more difficult for a strong
\nboy like you, to give blow for blow and to let fly your fist in the face of a
\nfriend who insults you or at that moment to keep your fist in your pocket?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cTo
\nkeep it in my pocket,\u201d he replied. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAnd which do you think is more worthy of a
\nbrave boy like you, to do the easier or the more difficult thing?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe more difficult thing,\u201d he said after a
\nmoment’s hesitation. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWell then, try to do it the next time you get
\nan opportunity.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Some time later, the young boy came to tell
\nme, not without legitimate pride, that he had been able to do \u201cthe more
\ndifficult thing\u201d. He said: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cOne of my work-mates, who is known for his
\nbad temper, struck me in a moment of anger. Since he knows that normally I am
\nnot one to forgive and that I have a strong arm, he was preparing to defend
\nhimself when I remembered what you had told me. It was harder for me than I
\nthought, but I put my fist in my pocket. And as soon as I did that, I felt no
\nmore anger in me, I only felt sorry for my friend. So I held out my hand to him.
\nThat surprised him so much that he stood looking at me for a moment,
\nopen-mouthed, without speaking. Then he seized my hand, shook it vigorously and
\nsaid with emotion: \u201cNow you can do what you like with me, I am your friend …
\nfor ever.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>This boy had controlled his anger as Caliph
\nHussein had done. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>But
\nthere are many other things that also need to be bridled.
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 171<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The
\nArabian poet, Al Kosai, lived in the desert. One day he came across a fine Naba<\/span> tree and from its branches he made a bow and some
\narrows. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>At
\nnightfall he set out to hunt wild asses. Soon he heard the hoof-beats of a
\nmoving herd. So he shot his first arrow. But he had bent the bow with such
\nstrength that the arrow, passing right through the body of one of the animals,
\ndashed against a nearby rock. When he heard the sound of wood on stone Al Kosai
\nthought he had missed his mark. So then he shot his second arrow and once more
\nthe arrow passed through an ass and struck the rock. Again Al Kosai thought he
\nhad missed his mark. In the same way he shot a third arrow, and a fourth, and a
\nfifth, and each time he heard the same sound. When it happened for the fifth
\ntime, he broke his bow in rage. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>At
\ndawn he saw five asses in front of the rock. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>If
\nhe had been more patient and waited until daybreak, he would have kept his
\npeace of mind and his bow as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>It
\nshould not be thought, however, that we have a high regard for a training which
\nweakens the character by depriving it of all its drive and vigour. When we put
\na bridle on a wild horse, we do not want the bit to tear his mouth and break
\nhis teeth. And if we want him to do his work well, we must tighten the reins to
\nguide him, but we must not pull on them so hard that he can no longer move
\nforward. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Unfortunately
\nthere are only too many weak characters who can, like sheep, be driven by a
\nmere bark. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>There are slavish and insensitive natures,
\nlacking in spirit and more forbearing than they should be. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Abu
\nOtman al-Hiri was known for his excessive patience. One day he was invited to a
\nfeast. When he arrived, the host told him: \u201cYou must excuse me, I cannot
\nreceive you. So please go back home, and may Allah have mercy on you.\u201d <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 172<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Abu
\nOtman went back home. No sooner was he there than his friend appeared and
\ninvited him once more. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Abu
\nOtman followed his friend as far as his doorstep, but there the friend stopped
\nand again asked to be excused. Abu Otman went away without a murmur. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A
\nthird time and a fourth the same scene was repeated, but in the end his friend
\nreceived him and said to him before the whole company: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAbu Otman, I behaved in this way in order to
\ntest your good temper. I admire your patience and forbearance.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cDo
\nnot praise me,\u201d replied Abu Otman, \u201cfor dogs practise the same virtue: they
\ncome when they are called and go when they are sent away.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Abu
\nOtman was a man and not a dog. And it could do no one any good that he should
\nthus, of his own accord, without dignity or good cause, submit to the mockery
\nof his friends. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Did
\nthen this man who was so meek have nothing in him to control? Oh, yes he did!
\nIt was the most difficult thing of all to control \u2013 the weakness of his
\ncharacter. And it was because he did not know how to control himself that
\neveryone controlled him as they pleased. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A
\nyoung Brahmacharin<\/span> was clever and knew it. He wished
\nto add to his talents more and more so that everyone would admire him. So he travelled<\/span> from land to land. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>With an arrow-maker he learned to make arrows.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Further on he learnt how to build and sail
\nships. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\nanother place he learnt how to build houses. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>And
\nin other places he acquired various other skills. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In
\nthis way he visited sixteen different countries. Then he returned home and
\nproudly declared, \u201cWhat man on earth is as skilful as I?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord Buddha saw him and wanted to
\nteach him a <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 173<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

nobler art than any he had learnt before. Assuming the appearance
\nof an old Shramana<\/span> he presented himself before the
\nyoung man with a begging bowl in his hand. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWho
\nare you?\u201d asked the Brahmacharin<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI
\nam a man who is able to control his own body.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe archer can aim his arrows,\u201d the Buddha
\nreplied. \u201cThe pilot guides the ship, the architect supervises the construction
\nof buildings, but the wise man controls himself.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIn
\nwhat way?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIf
\nhe is praised his mind remains unmoved, if he is blamed his mind remains
\nequally unmoved. He loves to follow the Right Law and he lives in peace.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Children of goodwill, you too should learn to
\ncontrol yourselves, and if a tough bridle is needed to control your nature, do
\nnot complain. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A
\nspirited young horse which will gradually become well-behaved is of much more
\nvalue than a placid wooden horse which will always remain placid whatever you
\nmay do, and on which you put a bridle only for the fun of it.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 174<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part    7   Tales of all Times                                            These stories were written to help children to discover themselves and follow a path of right…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-words-of-long-ago-volume-02","wpcat-123-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4337"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4337\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}