Samyama: Self-Control

Mastering impulses brings mastery

Two tales about the power of self-control. The Test of Patience shows how keeping calm leads to victory, while The Angry King demonstrates that impulsive decisions often bring regret.

The Test of Patience

A traveling scholar came to Vijayanagara claiming to be the most learned man in the world.

"I can defeat any scholar in debate!" he boasted. "No one can make me lose my temper. My self-control is perfect."

King Krishnadevaraya was curious. "Tenali, what do you think?"

"Perfect self-control?" Tenali smiled. "Let me test that."

Tenali approached the scholar respectfully. "Great sir, I have a question about grammar."

"Ask," said the scholar proudly.

Tenali asked a simple question. The scholar answered perfectly.

"Thank you, sir. But I didn't quite understand. Could you explain again?"

The scholar explained again, patiently.

"I'm sorry, I'm quite slow. One more time?"

The scholar's eye twitched slightly, but he explained again.

Tenali kept asking the same question. Again. And again. And again.

For three hours.

Each time, Tenali apologized sweetly and asked for "just one more explanation."

Finally, the scholar exploded.

"ARE YOU AN IDIOT?" he screamed. "I've explained it FIFTY TIMES! A child could understand! What is WRONG with you?!"

The court fell silent.

Tenali bowed. "Thank you, sir. You have proven my point. You claimed perfect self-control, but three hours of mild annoyance broke you. True patience isn't about being patient when it's easy, it's about staying calm when it's hard."

The scholar, embarrassed, had to admit his self-control wasn't as perfect as he'd claimed.

The Angry King

One morning, King Krishnadevaraya woke up in a terrible mood. His breakfast was cold. His robes weren't pressed. Everything annoyed him.

When he entered the court, his favorite parrot squawked loudly.

"SILENCE THAT BIRD!" the king roared.

A servant nervously approached the cage. The frightened parrot flew up, knocking over the cage. The door broke, and the parrot escaped through a window.

The king's anger grew. "Who is responsible for this?!"