When we strive to discipline ourselves by breaking free from our self-sabotaging cravings, we are essentially launching a war against them. Underscoring the reality and gravity of this war, the Bhagavad-gita (03.37) states that such craving, referred to generically as ‘lust’ is like a vicious and voracious enemy.

To emphasize the ferocity of this inner enemy, we can compare it to an alligator-like monster that seeks to wound and devour us. What makes matters worse is that we are ourselves trapped with this monster in a well. In this extended metaphor, the bottom of the well represents materialistic consciousness, wherein we believe that material objects are sources of pleasure; and the top of the well represents spiritual consciousness, wherein we realize that lasting joy is found in spiritual realization and in our spiritual connection with the all-attractive divinity, Krishna.

Yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, with its various practices and principles, is like a rope that helps us ascend. As we ascend the rope, we need to keep fighting off and beating down the monster of lust — that is, while practicing yoga, we need to resist and reject worldly temptations. During our yoga journey, the monster may sometimes become silent or inactive. This may make us complacent, as we may presume that we have risen above its reach. However, the monster of lust is an inveterate enemy — when it seems to be retreating, it may well be regrouping for a bigger attack.

In fact, because we have beaten that monster down, it is most likely enraged — and its rage can astonishingly and alarmingly increase the retaliatory reach of its attacks. Thus, when it leaps high up to grab us again, we may find ourselves forcefully caught and pulled down. 

How can we avoid being caught unaware by these attacks? By being vigilant and diligent. To be vigilant means to be always ready to fight off the attacks of lust, whether they come in the form of inner propositions or outer temptations. Recommending such a safety-first approach, the Gita (05.23) exhorts us to work with the assumption that we may have to tolerate the urges of lust lifelong. To be diligent means to practice yoga consistently, thereby fueling our ascent towards spiritual consciousness, which makes the attacks of lust less probable, even if they still remain possible.

Summary:

Humility in the inner war against lust means to never assume that we have risen beyond its retaliatory reach.

Think it over: 

  • How is disciplining ourselves like an inner war? 
  • Why might we become complacent in this inner war, and how could that endanger us? 
  • How can we protect ourselves from being entrapped by lust?

Audio explanation of the article is here: https://gitadaily.substack.com/p/humility-in-the-inner-war

 

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05.23: Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is happy in this world.