The clamour of the senses has to be silenced....

The farmer, intent on cultivation,
ignores even food and sleep, 
for he is too busy ploughing, levelling, 
scattering seeds, watering, weeding, 
guarding and fostering the crop.

He knows that his family will have to
subsist on the harvest that he brings home 
and that if he fritters away the precious season in idle pursuits,
his family will be confronted with hunger and ill-health. 

So, he sets aside or postpones
other pursuits and focuses all his attention on farming alone. 

He puts up with difficulties and deprivations,
toils day and night, watches over the growing crops 
and garners the grain. 

As a consequence, he is able to spend
the months ahead, in peace and joy, with his happy family. 

Students and spiritual seekers have to 
learn important lessons from the farmer. 

The stage of youth is the season 
for mental and intellectual culture. 

These years should be intensively and
intelligently cultivated; irrespective of difficulties and obstacles. 

The clamour of the senses has to be silenced; 
hunger and thirst have to be controlled; the urge 
to sleep and relax has to be curbed.