What does control mean?

Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.

Published on www.acadun.com

The Netherlands

7th November 2013

What does control mean?

Since life began, it happened the way it did every day until man began to think and believe he could control the way it happens. Ever since then life has been happening as it always did, and man still continues to believe that he can control the way his daily life should happen.

Man wishes to be in control in his house, the wife wishes to be in control of her children, and the boss in his office over his employees. And man knows that he is not in control at certain times, but wishes, hopes and prays to be in control of his daily life always. Man is advised to be in control of his daily life and is advised, therefore, to plan his life carefully so that he can be. If man were really in control of his daily life, planning would not be necessary. Since planning is advised and found to be necessary, it is obvious that man is not really in control of his daily life, but appears to be most of the day.

The crux point in controlling his daily life is to be able to control what others do, speak or think. If this were achieved, man would believe that he was always in control of his daily life. He is anxious and finds fault with others when he is not in control. He is satisfied or excited when he is in control. When man is not in control, the most difficult thing to control are his own thoughts.

If man were able to control his own thoughts, he would know how to control the thoughts of others too. But he does not know how to control his own thoughts, though he thinks he does. He could know how to control his own thoughts if he could make only the thoughts which he wants to come, or if he could replace them after they come. But he can do neither, as man knows his own thoughts only after they come to him, and never before, and he cannot replace thoughts after they have come to him.

If man were able to control his own spoken words, he would know how to control the words spoken by others too. But man does not know how to control his own spoken words, though he thinks he does. He could know how to control his own speech if he could make only the words which he wants to be spoken, or if he could replace them after they have been spoken. But he can do neither, as man knows what he has spoken only after he has spoken, and never before, and he cannot replace the spoken words after he has spoken them.

If man were able to control his own actions, he would know how to control the actions of others too. But man does not know how to control his own actions, though he thinks he does. He could know how to control his own actions if he could do only the actions which he wants to do, or if he could replace an action after it has been done. But he can do neither, as man knows what he has done only after he does the action, and never before, and he cannot replace the action after it has been done by him.

Man needs to understand that thoughts, words and actions happen to him and to others too. If he understands that they happen to him and he does not do them, anxiety, blame-game, excitement and satisfaction will be replaced by harmony in daily life. Man thinks life is real and he wants to control it, as he believes the real can be controlled. He needs to understand that life is a reflection of the real, which is light, and life is therefore illusory, which cannot be controlled.

Man is so close to the truth, which is light, and yet far away from it, just as the sun that touches the skin is so close to him; yet man believes the sun is far away in space.

So what does control mean? Control means life is safe in life’s hands.

Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar.
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2013

Editor’s Note:
The Fat Controller has long been a favourite with children  in the story of Thomas the Tank Engine. This endearing world of make-believe has arisen from the imagination of a highly creative mind. So too has the world in which we live arisen from the imagination of a highly creative mind. But so long as we accept this as a reality over which we exercise a controlling influence, we are bound to endure the less endearing consequences.
Julian, UK.

German Translator’s Note:
To be in control is the main issue in daily life, in the family, concerning health, at work and in religious and spiritual belief systems. That man is in control of his thoughts, words and actions and that he should be in control never gets questioned, even though it never really worked. If it worked, it would not be an issue but it still is. Along with the belief of control, fear accompanies mankind day in day out, because man thinks to be in control but at the same time doubts his faculty of controlling life. If he were really in control he would not be fearful. That he is fearful is proof enough that man is not in control of life. Fear only comes to an end when what is shared here is understood clearly: “Control means life is safe in life’s hands.“
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany

Dutch translator’s note:

When we are watching a movie, it will never occur to us to want to control the story. We know this is impossible. Life is far more ingenious than a movie, because sometimes is seems as if we have control and sometimes it appears we have not. This article reveals that our life is as a movie and our apparent control is not real. The play of life is kept going by life. We need not do anything.

Paula, the Netherlands

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