Understanding the Struggle with Material Desires

Question

Hare Krsna Prabhu I have a question. I know what is good for me, what is right and wrong and the ISKCON philosophy. But i give in to my sense gratification. Instead of reading the Gita I read other novels for entertainment or be on my phone. Not able to put my 100% free time into reading Prabhupada’s books. Why is this. I find more ruci (taste) in mundane material temporary things even though i know the truth. How can I change my self. I am not able to control my mind. Its very much spiritual suicide my actions.

Answer

Hare Krishna!

Congratulations! Do you know that if you know the problem then that is half the solution? It is also like “well begun is half done”.

Most people don’t even know the problem. But you do! That is very fortunate!

Thank you for your nice question. The answer will benefit many more also. Of course, your identity will never be disclosed whenever you ask a question, especially if the question is sensitive…

All of us who are in the material realm in material consciousness have one thing in common. Those in the spiritual realm, or in spiritual consciousness do not have this problem.

We have tried for a very long time to forget Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, over these millions of lifetimes, we have developed our false sense of identity… that we are this mind or body that covers us. So, we feel that satisfying the mind or satisfying the senses will actually give us pleasure.

If this were true, then all of us in the material world would be extremely ecstatic… After all, so many of us of us are able to fulfill so many of our material desires on a daily basis!

Srila Rupa Goswami, in the Nectar of Instruction, compares our condition to that of a jaundiced person… I had jaundice once, everything sweet tasted bitter. When I was feeling unwell recently, even the sweetest of drinking water tasted bitter! But in a healthy condition of life, we know that water is not bitter. We also know that sweet things are not bitter. When the illness subsides, then we begin to taste everything as it is.

Similarly, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada advises us…

The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛṣṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidyā [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root. – https://vedabase.io/en/library/noi/7/

Please read that verse, translation, and purport before you continue further… Please read the verse and purport. The following will make sense only if you have done this now 🙂

So, now what is to be done?

Just as a sick person needs to take their medicine and follow a strict diet, we need to carefully follow the rules of Sadhana Bhakti.

• Daily chant a minimum of 16 rounds attentively or as best as possible
• Follow the regulative principles carefully
• Read Srila Prabhupada’s books prayerfully
• Sing the songs of the Vaishnava Acharyas regularly
• Memorize chant the verses of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam as much as possible
• Serve Krishna and His devotees as much as possible

On a practical level, “where attention goes, energy flows”… so when we pay attention to Krishna, then our energy also flows to Krishna. When we pay attention to Maya’s toys, then our attention also goes there.

The weight of our spiritual practices sinks into our consciousness… if I am less conditioned, then it happens very quickly… like those disciples of Srila Prabhupada who started chanting 16 rounds from one day to the next… or who surrendered immediately… but if I am more heavily conditioned, then it may take some time.

But rest assured, like millions of souls have attested and continue to profess, the process of Bhakti Yoga works unfailingly on everyone who sincerely tries. It is a scientific process, which means that when the process is followed without deviation, the result is sure. Srila Prabhupada says “Success is certain for the rigid practitioner.”

So, my request to you is not to get discouraged… sincerely try, just as a child learning to walk does not give up trying to walk.