The Bound Soul – Samarth’s Warning (Be the Master, Not the Dog)

Samarth Ramdas says — in this world there are countless living beings, but they fall into four groups: Bound, Seeker of Liberation, Practitioner, and Liberated. The first question is: What is a bound soul? A bound soul is one who is tied down.

 

I am giving the example of a man with his dog to elaborate the baddh situation described by Samarth. The man ties the dog with a chain and takes him for a walk. If the dog is trained, it quietly follows the master. But usually, the dog runs ahead, and the master struggles to keep up, holding the chain tightly. Sometimes the dog breaks free, bites someone, and then the master faces quarrels, fights, medical expenses, even court cases. Instead of enjoying the joy of keeping a pet, the master suffers. In truth, it is the master who has become bound by the dog’s attraction.

 

In the same way, our senses — eyes, ears, nose, tongue, touch, hands, feet — are like dogs. If we become slaves to them, we lose control and they rule over us. Samarth describes the bound soul:

 

Now know the bound one

as Blind among the blind.

Without vision in all directions,

Lost in emptiness.

 

Such a person cannot think clearly. He does not understand duty, charity, devotion, knowledge, detachment, meditation, or liberation. He is drowned in anger, pride, jealousy, and selfish desires.

 

Just like a student who gets so caught up in mobile games that he forgets to study, a bound soul loses sight of the true purpose of life.

 

Samarth says such a person is busy with wealth in body, speech, and mind. For selfish gain he cheats, corrupts, and even harms others. In the end, he suffers through courts, prisons, and diseases. By overindulging in pleasures, his body and mind become sick.

 

Samarth’s description from 350 years ago is still true today. We decorate our homes not for living, but for ACs, TVs, and fridges. We bathe not for cleanliness, but for beauty. We eat not for nourishment, but for taste — pizza, burgers, chocolates. We buy cars for status. Parents and children feel like burdens, while pets are kept for show.

Today many people chase “likes” on social media. But instead of peace, they end up with stress. This too is a sign of bondage.

 

 Once we become slaves of our senses, the results strike both body and mind. Skin diseases, asthma, diabetes, heart problems, cancer, liver and kidney failure, blindness — life collapses, and hard-earned money sinks into medicines. The mind suffers depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, addictions; some even take the path of suicide. The growing number of old-age homes shows broken family ties.

 

Overconsumption destroys the environment — air and water turn poisonous, forests vanish, seasons lose balance. From this greed arise imperialist tendencies in governments, wars for resources, and humanity faces ruin.

 

 A bound soul fails in worldly life and cannot achieve spiritual liberation. His condition is like “the washerman’s dog — neither of the house nor of the riverbank.” Samarth warned us with nearly 100 signs of bondage. We must not become slaves to our senses. We must remain masters — not dogs.