To practice spiritual life means to wage an inner war against the illusion created by our lower desires, especially lust. The Bhagavad-gita (03.36–43) vividly outlines the dynamics of this inner war.
To help us focus our attack, the Gita (03.40) mentions the strategic positions captured by lust: the senses, the mind and, surprisingly, the intelligence. The statement that intelligence is a stronghold of lust is surprising because it is with the intelligence that we comprehend lust’s inimical nature and combat it. Even the Gita itself (03.43) urges us to use our intelligence to conquer lust. So is our intelligence overcome by illusion or is it the key to overcome illusion?
When illusion overruns our intelligence, we indulge in lust “intelligently”, that is, we (ab)use our intelligence to cover our tracks after indulgence so as to preserve a façade of purity.
It is both, for the intelligence lies within the conflict zone wherein the line of control keeps shifting. Sometimes the intelligence is misled by illusion and sometimes it is led by truth. When illusion overruns our intelligence, we indulge in lust “intelligently”, that is, we (ab)use our intelligence to cover our tracks after indulgence so as to preserve a façade of purity.
When our intelligence is guided by truth, especially scriptural truth, then it realizes the folly and futility of illusory indulgences. Being thus illumined, the intelligence resists and repulses the onslaughts of illusion. Of course, intelligence alone is not enough to counter illusion – we need devotion and the omnipotent grace of Krishna that devotion connects us with. Still, frequently it is intelligence that helps us realize the glory of devotion and our need for devotion. Thus intelligence is the key to overcome illusion.
Nonetheless, because our intelligence is always vulnerable to be overcome by illusion, we need to safeguard it by regularly studying Gita wisdom. Such diligent study will make our devotion steadier and our march to victory in the inner war swifter.
Explanation of article:
Listen audio
Thank you Prabhu for clarifying a point which used to plague me. BhagavadGita 2.66, corroborates the point you said by telling us that intelligence will be weak if one is not connected with Krishna. There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between devotion and intelligence.
Yes, good correlation.
ys
ccdas
Hare Krishna Chaitanya Charan dasPrabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Prabhu I think, as intelligence being materially the superior-sense, some of them misidentify themselves with the intelligence. So I guess only through devotional-service, can one distinguish himself/herself from the intelligence, and be elevated to a spiritual platform where the true identify of being a soul is revealed.
Hare Krishna
Addressed here:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/09/can-we-realize-our-spiritual-identity-only-by-bhakti-and-not-by-intelligence/
ys
ccdas
Hare Krishna Prabhuji
Can you please tell me how to keep mind steady and calm because our mind is driven by many factors beyond ones control and is subjected to evil which he never wants to do.Than we regret but krishna will not always forgive us.so how can we make our mind steady
Answered here:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/09/how-can-we-keep-our-mind-steady-amidst-outer-agitation-and-inner-temptation/
ys
ccdas