Guide Your Actions by Intellect and not by Your Emotions

Let us look at many examples to understand this point. If dishes need to be washed, we wash them even if we do not want to wash them. We do our homework (for school going children) because it has to be done. We do it even though we do not feel like doing it. Acting in this way will bring control of our mind. We go beyond our likes and dislikes. What we dislike maybe a good thing for us. What we like maybe a bad thing for us. We might like eating junk food. We do not eat it because it is not good for our health. In this scenario, we are acting in a wholesome manner. Our action is not dependent on our likes or dislikes but what is right. Similarly, we eat salad or a fruit whether we like it or not. We can't do something just because we feel like doing it. Action has to be guided by intellect. So many more examples can be given. Let us say I am angry. It is best to keep quiet when I am angry. So we keep silence because that is best in this situation. Even though we want to speak our heart out, we keep quiet because that is the wise thing to do. Action is governed by our intellect and not by our mind. Intellect guides what is right and wrong. Mind is the seat of emotions. In our actions, intellect should have higher priority over our emotions. By governing our life in this way, we will always be doing what is right and refraining ourselves from what is not right. Our life will be guided by values and not by whims of our fancies. This principle can be applied in financial matters also. We know how much we can spend without going in debt so we do not spend more than our limit. Even though we like some expensive dress but we do not buy it because that will keep us out of trouble later on.

Acting in this way, one will have total control over the mind. Without this control, we act in this world as slaves of our minds and not as masters. This is also a type of slavery. So if we want to live like masters, we need to learn to restrain ourselves in both situations.

In the beginning it will be difficult not to act according to our minds. Our likes and dislikes will rule us but slowly and slowly with practice and patience, we will be able to act according to our intellect and not by our minds. Practice and patience are very important in developing this quality.