The joy or distress experienced by the mind is the result of the impressions conveyed by the senses. All experiences are products of the mind. The world itself is the projection of the mind. The mind can bring remote things near or send nearby things afar. It is the source of pleasure or pain. The sages have declared: Mano mulam idam jagat (This universe is based on the mind). The mind seeks to acquire something with much effort in the hope that its possession will give pleasure. But the pleasure derived from it does not last long. And the sorrow caused by its loss is considerable. There is trouble during the process of acquisition. Possession confers only temporary pleasure. The loss of the object leaves a trail of misery. Very often, the pain from loss exceeds the pleasure from gain. It is a futile waste of one’s life to go after such transient pleasures. Realising the meaninglessness of such pursuits, the sages practised self-control as the means to enduring happiness. They evolved the technique of turning the senses and the mind inward to seek the source of lasting bliss.