first we should have some control over ourselves

आत्मा यस्य वशे नास्ति कुतस्तस्य परे जनाः।

आत्मानं वशमानीय त्रैलोक्यं वर्तते वशे॥

महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ४६५७

ātmā yasya vaśe nāsti kutastasya pare janāḥ|

ātmānaṁ vaśamānīya trailokyaṁ vartate vaśe||

mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 4657

A great quote from Mahasubhashita Sangraham compiled by the legendary scholar Steinbach..

If we have to have some control over things, first we should have some control over ourselves.. This fact is underlined in this couplet..

How can one have control over other people or objects if he cannot over control over himself?

If one brings his own self under control, the whole of the three worlds would easily be controlled by him

It is easier said that done.

To have control over oneself is a very tough task.. In fact all the philosophies, religions, management techniques and teachings essentially concentrate on ways and means of controlling oneself and controlling others too.. All the achievement, all the trouble shooting, all the repairs and re orientations happen on the basis of such study alone..

Yoga aphorisms starts with the definintion that Yoga is the control of the activities of ones mind..

YogaH chittavrittinirodhaH..योगः चित्तवृत्ति निरोधः

Control of self involves control of anger and laziness, bad and not so bad impulses, and distribution of various tendencies in the optimum proportions.

With great efforts a person may reach a state of such equilibrium for some time..

But the natural propensities and the effects of the surroundings would push him away from such equilibrium too often..

The real control is the capacity to maintain the balance for ever..

Even the best of human species have faltered in that.

Be it Indra or Vishvamitra..

Gita talks of the man of equilibrium, Stithaprajna स्थितप्रज्ञ in so many words..

There again the definition would baffle us..

The only question we could ask ourselves is..

Is it possible?

No, It is not possible in the perfect way.. But we can try to control our impulses and senses to the best extent possible..

And our standing in the society and our position before God would entirely depend on our range of success in this attempt..

Maybe we can aim at the stars, and we may land up atop a tree..

Still that is good

But if we flow off the handle even at the sight of the slightest disturbance or imbalance, then we are simply doomed.