If we have an enemy who wants to destroy us, then we will be alert to the danger and try to protect ourselves. However, if our enemy had the power to become invisible, then we would be in greater danger. We would be in the greatest danger if we had an enemy who concealed their enmity and earned our trust by sweet words and captivating promises. 

We all have such most dangerous enemies inside us in the form of our self-destructive urges. These urges trigger within us irrational desires that impel us to actions that hurt us and those we love. Testimony to the dangerousness of these enemies are the millions of addicts across the world. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (03.37) declares that such urges are our enemies and are indeed the world’s enemies. Their enmity is invisible because they seduce us by promising pleasure. Though pandering to them ends in pain, it seems initially enjoyable (18.38). By their deadly deceptiveness, such urges cover our knowledge (03.38) and eventually destroy our knowledge and even our inclination to seek knowledge (03.39).

Thankfully, we don’t have to become paranoid. Though we are targeted by such deadly enemies, we all can be protected by a far greater power: the power of the omnipotent divine, Krishna (07.14). Unfortunately, we often don’t take connecting with Krishna seriously; we treat our spirituality almost like an optional hobby, not realizing that it is an essential survival resource. 

When we understand, through Gita wisdom, how dangerous our inner enemies are, the resulting healthy fear inspires us to increase our absorption in Krishna, thereby protecting ourselves (02.61). 

One-sentence summary:

Enemies are dangerous, invisible enemies are even more dangerous, enemies whose enmity is invisible are most dangerous — capable of protecting us from them all is our inner Lord. 

Think it over:

  • Who are our inner enemies? Why are they so dangerous?
  • When was the last time you experienced the dangerousness of your inner enemies?
  • How can we protect ourselves from our inner enemies?

***

03.39: Thus the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

 

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