Examine how the senses are satisfied.

Examine deeply how the senses are satisfied. Perception of objects themselves involves the three guNas. The tAmasic aspect veils the true nature of objects, which is Pure Consciousness. The rAjasic aspect projects objects. The sAttvic aspect allows perception of objects: viShaya jnAna.

All objects that are perceived by the senses are composed of five primary elements: pRthvI, apah, agni, vAyu and AkAsha. Loosely translated as earth element, water element, fire element, air element and space element.

The jnAnendriyas (sense organ of perception) and karmendriyas (organ of action) are also associated with the elements at their seats in the five lower cakras.

Desire for experiencing an object arises as a wave in Consciousness due to vAsanas. The vAsanas are the subtle traces of desire that when full blown appear as samskAras. The primary vAsana is the aham vAsana ("I", as distinct from other). When this subsides only the Self remains in samAdhi as Being. Due to the aham vAsana arising, and projection and evolution (subtle to gross) of the five elements the deha vAsana then arises. Thoughts lead to actions and actions strengthen the vAsanas.

Repeated thinking of something deepens its impression in the mind. For instance, food is necessary for  maintenance of the body, but the tongue gets attached to certain kinds of food. As long as the food is sAttvic, if the tongue can be trained to not be too attached to any one kind of food, then that vAsana is slowly erased. Of course, these days this is difficult because even having one type of sAttvic food regularly at meal times is not easy. But it is helpful in understanding the vAsana. Once the desire to eat arises, it is satisfied only by acquisition of the object. The instant the senses contact the object, there is satisfaction. This is viShayAnanda. Bliss of objects. It is a reflection of the Bliss of the Self. AtmAnanda. See BhRgu valli in the Taitt. Up.

So the ability to restrain the senses is very helpful in slowly erasing ashubha vAsanas: impure or inauspicious vAsanas that impel us to do acts injurious  to our Self-Realization. This is tapas and that is why it is important.

Also examine deeply the nature of attraction and aversion: rAga and dveSha. Why does one need to control this reaction? These reactions lead to instability in the mind and those are not conducive to peace and the highest Bliss. Essentially attraction and aversion are the characteristics of impermanence. Because one inevitably leads to the other. On the other hand, non-reaction does not result in change, provided it arises from the highest Vision (samyagdarshaNa) that everything is the One.