Lust which is also known as “kama” is the only driving force that keeps one entangled in the material world. Lust is the perverted reflection of love of God.
Krishna (in Bhagavad Gita 3.37) informs Arjuna that “It is lust only, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world”. When the sense of love of God is transformed, it turns into lust, just like the milk when comes in contact with the sour tamarind is transformed into yogurt.
Similarly, when a pure living entity comes in contact with the material world the love of God is transformed into lust, which makes living entity engaged and remain in material world.
One may question, if the living entities are part and parcel of the supreme (One with similar quality) then why does the living entity give up love of God and becomes lusty?
The answer for this is that the living entities also have partial independence which the supreme personality of Godhead does not interfere with, the living entity misuses its independence to enjoy separately from Krishna, when the service attitude is transformed into the propensity of sense enjoyment, it turns into lust, the lust further develops into wrath, and from wrath to illusion which results in continuation of material existence.
(Above illustration shows the stages of love to lust to illusion)
According to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi 1:4:165)
ātmendriya-prīti-vāñchā — tāre bali ‘kāma’
kṛṣṇendriya-prīti-icchā dhare ‘prema’ nāma
The desire to gratify one’s own senses is kāma [lust], but the desire to please the senses of Lord Kṛṣṇa is prema [love]
Lust or kama is seated in different place of living entity:
- Indriyani – Senses
- Manah – Mind
- Buddhih – intelligence
Lust will aggregate through indulgence; it does not subdue by indulgence. Srila Prabhupada in his purport BG.3.38 explains 3 degrees of lust based on the analogy below.
When one is educated in krsna consciousness from the very beginning of his life, the natural love of God cannot deteriorate into lust. Krsna consciousness is so powerful that even if one begins late in his lifetime can become lover of God by following the regulative principles of devotional service directed by acharyas.
On the personal application, the only solution to control lust is to always engage all the senses in the devotional service of Krishna and strictly follow the regulative principles of devotional service. Srila Prabhupada has established ISKCON to parctically demonstrate how one can be engaged 24 hours a day in devotional service.
One can engage in various devotional services like
- Deity Worship
- Book Distribution
- Nagar sankirtan
- Preparing Prasadam for the lord
- Cleaning temple
- Meeting people and explaining the science of krishna consciousness
- Celebrating festivals, etc.,
One might fall while practicing devotional service and austerity, but one should again wake up and keep practicing. Patience & Practice is the formula for keeping the momentum of spiritual life.
Hare Krishna!!!!!!!
