The intelligence that entertains indiscriminate indulgence is bad. The intelligence that endorses such indulgence is worse. And the intelligence that espouses such indulgence is the worst. We all have the tendency to indulge in pleasure: and sometimes we may indulge indiscriminately, excessively, recklessly, and that can be destructive. Our intelligence is meant to stop us from doing that. The Bhagavad Gita states that the intelligence can also be contaminated and even controlled by lust – and this can happen at three levels. When the intelligence entertains such indulgence: that is bad, it’s allowing it to happen. When it endorses thinking that it is good: that’s worse. But when it espouses and champions such indulgence: coming up with philosophies to rationalize it, that is the worst.

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03.43 Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Kṛṣṇa consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.