As long as our mind remains unpersuaded about the dangers of temptation, we remain unprotected from it.
We are all engaged in a war with temptation—especially in today’s world, where the media often serves as a weapon, subjecting us to a relentless barrage of enticing images and ideas. Through experience and intelligence, we may periodically recognize the futility and folly of temptation. Futility, because it rarely delivers the promised pleasure in the promised quantity, and folly, because it leads us to fall prey to the same tricks repeatedly.
Beyond the futility and folly of indulgence, there is also the danger of becoming attached or even addicted. Once we’re entangled in attachment, even as the returns from indulgence painfully diminish, we often can’t seem to shake off the desire to indulge. Many people worldwide suffer from lifelong addictions that torment them, leading some to tragic outcomes, even loss of life. Drug overdose deaths, for instance, are becoming distressingly common.
The Bhagavad-gita warns in 3.39 that self-defeating desires can be relentless enemies that pursue us indefinitely. Although we may understand how dangerous some temptations can be, our mind may still remain unpersuaded. It might make us believe that a little indulgence won’t hurt, that the dangers of indulgence are exaggerated or only apply to extreme cases. The mind may generate countless similar narratives to downplay the perils of temptation.
As long as our mind remains unpersuaded, we remain unprotected. Why unprotected? Because the mind is within us, capable of betraying us at any moment. It’s like having a spy in the ranks—one in an essential position that we can’t simply remove, as the mind is indispensable to our function as souls interacting with the material world through the subtle link provided by the mind.
What then can we do? It’s crucial to persuade the mind about the dangers of sensual indulgence. This persuasion is the essence of realization; we truly realize something when our mind accepts that truth.
To accomplish this, we must integrate all our faculties and seek divine grace. The combined effect of these resources can gradually extinguish the mind’s false hopes of finding pleasure through indulgence. This approach can be summarized with the acronym DIS: Devotional connection, Intellectual conviction, and Sensory regulation.
Devotional connection: Achieve an experience of higher happiness through absorption in the Divine.
Intellectual conviction: Strengthen your understanding by studying and contemplating scriptural philosophy.
Sensory regulation: Recall past sensory experiences and engage in moderate self-regulation to witness the relief that comes from reduced attachment.
When the feverish craving for pleasure diminishes, we realize that the peace gained from restraint is far more satisfying than the brief, often disappointing pleasure of indulgence.
The Bhagavad-gita 3.42 describes an inner hierarchy: the senses are above the sense objects, the mind is above the senses, intelligence is above the mind, and the soul is above intelligence. By launching a multi-level campaign—using the soul’s devotional connection and the intellect’s conviction to influence the mind from above, while regulating the senses from below—we can gradually persuade the mind. Only when the mind is persuaded do we become truly protected.
This doesn’t mean we’re bound to fall for every temptation until our mind is fully persuaded. However, as long as our mind remains unpersuaded, we remain at risk, as an inner force still craves sensory indulgence. Even a momentary lapse in vigilance could lead us to succumb or relapse.
Awareness of our vulnerability enables us to keep our sensory and intellectual defenses on high alert while we work on strengthening our weak point—the unpersuaded mind. When our mind becomes pure, our position becomes secure.
Summary:
- Although we may see the futility, folly, and depravity of indiscriminate sensual indulgence, our mind may still remain unpersuaded, clinging to the hope of future happiness through indulgence.
- Until the mind is persuaded to refrain from sensuality, there is a critical vulnerability in our defenses against temptation, as the mind can act as an internal spy, ready to betray us.
- By fostering devotional connection (providing higher attraction), intellectual conviction (from scriptural study and contemplation), and sensory regulation (for relief and peace), we can gradually persuade our mind. Once the mind is persuaded, we find security in purity.
Think it over:
- Reflect on a sensual pleasure whose futility, folly, and potential depravity you’ve experienced, yet to which you’ve relapsed. Analyze how this is due to an unpersuaded mind.
- How does the unpersuaded mind jeopardize our defenses against temptation?
- Outline how you can apply the three-pronged strategy to persuade your mind.
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03.42 The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.
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