Controlling our urges: By Subhag Swami
Question: Maharaj, sometimes we try to restrain our urges such as eating less. For some time we can but after a while we feel dissatisfied and cannot continue with our practices. How can we practically apply this in our lives and maintain the standard?
Answer: Everything should be done with moderation. There is a famous saying: ‘Haste means waste. Slow and steady wins the race.’ If we are given something very palatable we may say, ‘No, no. Take it away.’ But inside we are meditating on that sense object. The Gita describes this as mityacara (pretender). He wants to eat that item but forcible, against his will, he is rejecting it. Ultimately that won’t work. When alone, he will indulge much more than he normally would. It is better to be balanced. Take a little of that item and be satisfied. That is the teaching of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. He instructs that we should not overly suppress our urges, rather moderately try and restrain them. When there is a feast, take a small amount of tasty prasad, not too much. And see how it is reacting upon your mind.