We may sometimes titillate ourselves by, say, watching scenes depicting immoral indulgences. And we may rationalize such titillation by thinking that we have no intention of doing physically whatever we watch visually.

However, mental indulgences don’t always stay mental. The Bhagavad-gita (02.67) cautions that whenever we contemplate the sense objects perceived by our roaming senses, that contemplation generates a forceful desire akin to a storm that sweeps away a boat. We are in a vulnerable situation like a boat in an ocean. Though we are spiritual beings, we are presently existing in the material world in a material body. Being situated in a body that is driven by the senses and in a world that is filled with sense object, we can be easily swept away by sensual desires, leading to tribulation.

But someone may object, “Titillation doesn’t always lead to tribulation.” Yes, just as storms may not occur daily in an ocean, so too may titillations not always trigger stormy desires. Still, titillation has two harmful consequences: it increases our craving for future titillation, and it makes us complacent while we titillate ourselves. Thereafter, whenever a habitual titillation suddenly triggers a forceful desire, like a stormy wind suddenly sweeping across the ocean, we are caught unawares. And soon we find ourselves dragged into immoral indulgences that we would normally have forcefully rejected. Better to avoid such danger by staying away from titillations bordering on the immoral.

Won’t avoiding sensual titillation make us feel deprived? Not if we seek something more fulfilling, namely, spiritual absorption. Bhakti-yoga connects us with the supreme spiritual reality, the all-attractive Supreme, Krishna. The connection is twofold: through inner contemplation on his glories and outer engagement in his service. Being thus devotionally connected, we access a sublime satisfaction that makes sensual titillation increasingly resistible and ultimately unappealing.

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