Brain finds it very easy to replicate what we see, if not, what we hear or what we read or what we think. Well, if we have any bad influence on us, what do we do? Does brain has the ability to tell what is right at this moment and what is wrong? How does one know what we hear, see, read and think is right or wrong? In short, how does one know what I am doing is right or wrong?
I remember one of the Tenali Raman's story while pondering over influence. I wish to take you through this anecdote. Once Tenali Raman was given a challenge in King Krishna Deva Raya's court by a wealthy merchant. Tenali Raman was given 3 dolls and was asked to find the difference between all three of them. After a few days, Tenali Raman asked for a wire and said, "The first doll is bad, because, the wire enters from the ear and comes out from mouth. Which means, it represents people who gossip. The second doll is good, because the wire enters from the ear and comes out from the other ear. Which means, it represents, people who do not pay much attention to rumours. The third doll is also bad, because the wire enters from the ear and stabbed the heart. Which means, it represents the people who listen to the gossip and judge based on that. "
Well, we all aim to be the second doll, but we land up being either first or third. It is easy to get influenced whatever we hear and see. We need to try to understand, which sense is getting more influenced and we need to be strict to ourselves and try to become the second doll.
What do we have to do to not get influenced? Krishna mentions in Chapter 4, shloka 25, on sacrificing the senses.
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति।
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति।।4.26।।
śrōtrādīnīndriyāṇyanyē saṅyamāgniṣu juhvati.
śabdādīnviṣayānanya indriyāgniṣu juhvati৷৷4.26৷৷
Meaning - Some of them sacrifice the hearing process and the senses in the fire of the balanced and controlled mind (unbiased mind) , and others sacrifice the objects of the sense like source of sound, vibration in the fire called sacrifice.
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे।
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते।।4.27।।
sarvāṇīndriyakarmāṇi prāṇakarmāṇi cāparē.
ātmasaṅyamayōgāgnau juhvati jñānadīpitē৷৷4.27৷৷
Meaning - Others offer all the activities of the organs and the activities of the vital force into the fire of the yoga of self-control which has been lighted by Knowledge.
Only, when one is knowledgeable about which sense is more influenced, one can sacrifice that sense to attain balance. For example, if we listen to many things and get influenced by someone and doesn't have self thought and self analysis on how other senses are reacting, then it is important to develop balance in what we hear to , to whom we listen to. Same is the case with all other senses. Be aware and analyse.
The very common example one can easily correlate is how we get influenced by videos, memes, movies, stand up comedy shows, emotional scenes. Everyone is looking for opportunity for phone detox and social media detox and this is the sacrifice the present age is going through. The screen influence is what we all go through, day in and day out.
Hence, develop the knowledge on how each sense is influenced by each other and attain the balance of that root cause. That is the fire one should develop within oneself. And it needs practice. And that is the yoga (union with oneself) one needs to attain.
All that we need to do is - Be aware and Practice Practice Practice. Only then brain can replicate the balance you need at any situation. And stay away from the influence.
---Keerthi Peratla