Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 15 verse 9
Chapter 15 · Purushottama Yoga

The One Looking Out · Beyond the Five Doors

श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च । अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते ॥

śrotraṁ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṁ ca rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva ca adhiṣṭhāya manaś cāyaṁ viṣayān upasevate

Meaning

"Presiding over the ear, eye, touch, taste, and smell, along with the mind, this soul enjoys the objects of the senses."

Explanation

Every sense experience you have is really consciousness looking out through these five doors and the mind. It's worth occasionally noticing the one doing the looking, not just what's seen.

Today's Life Lesson

Amid today's sights and sounds, take one quiet moment to notice the awareness that's doing the sensing.

More verses to reflect on