“The mind is not a devotee.”
Even after controlling the mind, we should remain vigilant, because it can again become agitated with the least stimulation.
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It is described in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that Ṛṣabhadeva possessed all mystic perfections, but He neglected them, refusing to exercise their powers. One could question why, since Ṛṣabhadeva was completely renounced and free from the grasp of illusory energy.
It is understandable that a neophyte may avoid displaying mystic power in fear that they may distract him from his practice, but what is the need of a paramahaṃsa such as Ṛṣabhadeva to hide His opulences? Certainly, there was no risk for Him in falling back into illusion.
This question is voiced by Maharaja Parīkṣit to Śukadeva Goswami:
“King Parīkṣit asked Śukadeva Gosvāmī: My dear Lord, for those who are completely pure in heart, knowledge is attained by the practice of bhakti-yoga, and attachment for fruitive activity is completely burned to ashes. For such people, the powers of mystic yoga automatically arise. They do not cause distress. Why, then, did Ṛṣabhadeva neglect them?” (SB 5.6.1)
In his purport, Prabhupāda connects the point made by Maharaja Parīkṣit of the powers of mystic yoga not causing distress for one who is pure in heart to the situation of a pure devotee who uses material opulences in Krsna’s service without being disturbed. The point, however, is that a pure devotee uses everything for Krsna, and therefore, he is protected. This contrasts with many examples of yogīs who misuse their yogic perfections to show magic tricks and attract followers.
The example of Ṛṣabhadeva is precisely to teach neophyte yogis, as well as devotees who are not yet perfect in their devotional service, of the danger of becoming swayed by the possibilities brought about by material opulence or mystic perfections. Even great yogīs can fall.
Therefore, even after controlling the mind, we should remain vigilant, because the mind can again become agitated after the least stimulation. Saubhari Muni attained a very high stage of yoga practice, but still he fell victim to sexual attraction after seeing fish mating around him inside the lake where he was meditating.
The mind should be thus treated just like an untrustworthy person, always kept under careful surveillance. Even when it appears that the mind has become peaceful, it can’t be trusted. In the practical sense, this means we should always be attentive to our spiritual practice, continuing to perform sacrifice, charity, and penance, even when we may think the mind is now under control. Krsna makes this point on Bg 18.5, when He says that “Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.”
Prabhupāda also connects this with rules regarding association with the opposite sex, which often causes even great transcendentalists to fall down: “A gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsī and brahmacārī should be very careful when associating with women. One is forbidden to sit down in a solitary place even with one’s mother, sister or daughter.”
He raises another point, however: nowadays it is not always possible for male devotees to disassociate from women, and much less for lady devotees to disassociate from men. Prabhupāda himself was criticized for allowing unmarried men and women to live in the temples, for example. Conversely, even if one rigidly follows all regulations in minute detail, there is also no guarantee that one may not be lured. What to do then?
He himself answers, revealing a higher dimension: “If we stick to the principle of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly, then, by the grace of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura, we may be saved from the allurement of women. However, if we are not very strict in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, we may at any time fall victim to women.”
The highest regulative principle is to always strive to chant our prescribed rounds attentively and without offense. We need to always be attentive to this, even when we think that we have subdued the mind. If we can maintain this principle, always chanting sincerely, praying for the mercy of the Lord, we may remain uninterested in material gratification, even if we have to take risks while working to spread Krsna Consciousness.
The next verse brings another example:
“An unchaste woman is very easily carried away by paramours, and it sometimes happens that her husband is violently killed by her paramours. If the yogī gives his mind a chance and does not restrain it, his mind will give facility to enemies like lust, anger and greed, and they will doubtlessly kill the yogī. The mind is the root cause of lust, anger, pride, greed, lamentation, illusion and fear. Combined, these constitute bondage to fruitive activity. What learned man would put faith in the mind?” (SB 5.6.4-5)
The mind is here compared to a duplicitous woman, who is easily attracted by other men, who can even kill her husband. Similarly, qualities such as lust, anger, and greed, to which the mind is easily attracted, can destroy our spiritual progress. The mind thus needs to be always checked carefully and kept always engaged in Krsna Consciousness.
In his purport, Prabhupāda raises the point that women are never to be given freedom, being always controlled by the father, husband, and then elderly sons. Why is this connection made?
The point is that in our age, people are rarely self-controlled. This means we are at the mercy of the caprices of the mind, which leads us to do things that are not beneficial for ourselves or others. In such a desperate position, having an affectionate person who can oversee our actions and prevent us from doing immoral things is a blessing.
Just as a pious woman may have the opportunity of being protected by a father, husband, and sons, a fortunate devotee may have the opportunity of being protected by the spiritual master and other seniors. An intelligent person will understand the value of it.
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