Why You Lose Control of Your Mind

Be Spiritual
Jan 13
3 min read

If you have ever felt like your mind is a runaway train—constantly chasing distractions, dwelling on the past, or falling into habits you know are wrong—you are experiencing a "driverless" life. We often ask: Why do I do things I regret? Why is my willpower so weak? and how can I regain control of my life when my senses seem to have a mind of their own?

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj uses a powerful Vedic metaphor to explain the internal hierarchy of the human being and identifies exactly where the breakdown happens.

The Architecture of the Soul: The Chariot Metaphor

Maharaj Ji corrects a common misunderstanding of how our internal system works. He describes the human experience as a journey on a chariot, where every part must function in harmony for the passenger to reach the destination.

1. The Five Horses (The Senses)

Your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin are the horses. Their natural instinct is to run toward "green grass" (worldly pleasures and sensory objects). If left to themselves, they will run in five different directions, eventually tearing the chariot apart.

2. The Reins (The Mind)

The mind is the set of reins connected to the horses. The mind itself has no direction; it simply transmits the pull of the horses to the driver. If the reins are loose, the horses do whatever they want.

3. The Charioteer (The Intellect / Buddhi)

The most critical part of this system is the Buddhi. The Charioteer is responsible for holding the reins (mind) tight and guiding the horses (senses) on the correct path. Maharaj Ji explains that in most people, the Charioteer is "intoxicated" by ego and worldly desires. When the driver is drunk or asleep, the reins go slack, and the horses take over.

4. The Passenger (The Soul / Atma)

The Soul is the silent passenger sitting in the back of the chariot. The soul doesn't drive; it simply observes. However, because the Charioteer (intellect) is not doing its job, the Passenger (you) is forced to endure a bumpy, dangerous, and chaotic ride.

The Solution: Awakening the Charioteer

Maharaj Ji teaches that you cannot control the "horses" (senses) by fighting them directly. You must fix the Driver (intellect).

Purify the Intellect: Through Naam Jap (Chanting) and Satsang (Holy Company), the "drunkenness" of the intellect clears up. You begin to see clearly what is helpful and what is harmful.
Tighten the Reins: A purified intellect naturally tightens the reins of the mind. Instead of the mind telling the intellect what to do, the intellect starts commanding the mind: "No, we are not going there; we are staying on the path of Bhakti."
Discipline the Horses: Only when the driver is awake and the reins are firm do the senses become "divine tools" rather than "deadly enemies."

The Next Step: From Listening to Living

Maharaj Ji teaches that spiritual life is essentially a "driver education" course for your intellect. To move from listening to living, you must stop identifying with your wandering mind and start strengthening your Vivek (Discernment). When you chant the Name of God, you are giving the Charioteer the strength to wake up and take the wheel.

You don't need to change your clothes or your location to start your journey. You only need to change your direction.

How to Apply This Today:

The 'Who is Driving?' Check: Three times today, stop and ask: "Is my Charioteer (wisdom) driving right now, or are my Horses (cravings) pulling me?" Just the act of asking wakes up the intellect.
Firm the Reins: When you feel an impulse to gossip, snack mindlessly, or scroll on your phone, say "Radha Radha" and wait 60 seconds. This is you "tightening the reins" and proving you are in control.
Fuel the Driver: Spend 10 minutes tonight reading a scripture or listening to a saint's words. This is the "sobering medicine" that keeps your Charioteer alert for tomorrow.

Which of your "Horses" (senses) is the wildest and hardest to control right now? Share your experience below.

"Don't blame the horses for being wild; blame the driver for being asleep. Wake up your intellect through the Holy Name, and you will find that the very senses that once led you to hell will now carry you straight to the Divine."