The Primary Enemy

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It has been clearly and specifically declared by The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, in the Gita, that Lust destroys knowledge, hampers intelligence and opens the door to ignorance and darkness.

Text 41, Chapter 3, Srimad Bhagavad Gita.

tasmat tvam indriyany adau niyamya bharatarsabha papmanam prajahi hy enam jnana-vijnana-nasanam

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.

PURPORT

The Lord advised Arjuna to regulate the senses from the very beginning so that he could curb the greatest sinful enemy, lust, which destroys the urge for self-realization, and specifically, knowledge of the self. Jnanam refers to knowledge of self as distinguished from non-self, or, in other words, knowledge that the spirit soul is not the body. Vijnanam refers to specific knowledge of the spirit soul and knowledge of one's constitutional position and his relationship to the Supreme Soul. It is explained thus in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: jnanam parama-guhyam me yad vijnana-samanvitam/sa-rahasyam tad-angam ca grhana gaditam maya: "The knowledge of the self and the Supreme Self is very confidential and mysterious, being veiled by maya, but such knowledge and specific realization can be understood if it is explained by the Lord Himself." Bhagavad-gita gives us that knowledge, specifically knowledge of the self. The living entities are parts and parcels of the Lord, and therefore they are simply meant to serve the Lord. This consciousness is called Krsna consciousness. So, from the very beginning of life one has to learn this Krsna consciousness, and thereby one may become fully Krsna conscious and act accordingly. Lust is only the perverted reflection of the love of God which is natural for every living entity. But if one is educated in Krsna consciousness from the very beginning, that natural love of God cannot deteriorate into lust. When love of God deteriorates into lust, it is very difficult to return to the normal condition. Nonetheless, Krsna consciousness is so powerful that even a late beginner can become a lover of God by following the regulative principles of devotional service. So, from any stage of life, or from the time of understanding its urgency, one can begin regulating the senses in Krsna consciousness, devotional service of the Lord, and turn the lust into love of Godhead--the highest perfectional stage of human life.

(The above commentary is by Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)

 

Moderator's commentary :People today are not paying heed to this fact and are hankering for fulfillment. They must try to change their mind from "hankering for sense enjoyment" to "hankering for Krishna" We can simply direct our Love towards Krishna and we get tenfold returns. If we direct our Love towards material things, we get only temporary satisfaction. Although the nature of Maya is Mithya and Evancescence, it is still very strong and deludes even the mightiest. Only by the mercy of a Pure devotee, in these days we can get the push we need for spiritual unfoldment.we must cry for the Lord instead of crying for material gains which never last forever. The association of the Lord that we get even for a few minutes through congregational chanting is worth everything you can think of. Wherever there is Harinaama, there is Hari. So chant always and even for a moment don't give up chanting. Even in a public place like Airport or Bus Stand, chant mentally without offending anyone, and at home or in kirtan (spiritual congregation for chanting Harinaam) chant enthusiastically and loudly, and Lust, The Primary Enemy will run away!