Set aside Lust ,Anger, Greed, Pride – Obtain Ultimate Love

The below essay is based on a lecture by Radhanath Swami


Demoniac Qualities Lust Pride Prestige

Date: 08-01-95

Set aside Lust ,Anger, Greed, Pride – Obtain Ultimate Love

Radhanath Swami explains that our hearts are dirty, full of lust, anger, greed and pride. The false ego keeps telling us that we are important, that our so-called possessions belong to us. This leads to pride. The false ego tells us that what we have is not enough, leading to greed. The false ego hankers for sense enjoyment, leading to lust. When lust and greed are somewhat satisfied, pride increases. The increase in pride leads to further lust and greed, leading to a vicious never-ending cycle. When the fructification of lust and greed are bewildered, it leads to anger.

Radhanath Swami illustrates these points by two stories. One is the story of the Brahmana whose spare loin cloth was being eaten by rats while he was meditating and bathing in a river. Based on advise received he gets a cat to control the rats; a cow to provide milk to the cat; a wife to take care of the cow;and a job to take care of the wife. He finally gives up everything, including the spare loin cloth to be able to concentrate on this meditative practice. This story illustrates that it is not possible to solve spiritual problems by material means. The second story is of Shankachura, an associate of the devata Kubera – the treasurer of the devatas. Shankachura was very proud because of his wealth and position. He once visited Vrindavan when Krishna was personally present. At that time, Krishna and Balarama were exhibiting Their divine pastimes with the Gopis. Seeing the divine beauty of the Shankachura, lust was awakened in the heart of Shankachura. He wanted to enjoy the Gopis for himself, taking the place of Krishna and Balaram. Krishna’s pastimes with the Gopis are very sacred and divine, full of pure love. Shankachura tried to create a disturbance in this pastime and was thus destroyed. This story illustrates that Krishna is the only enjoyer and that it is futile to try to enjoy the material energy as well as what is meant only for Krishna’s pleasure.

The practice of Bhakti Yoga is the only way by which we can awaken divine love of the Supreme within ourselves and overcome the quadruple demons of lust, anger, greed and pride. The most sublime way of practicing Bhakti Yoga is to chant the holy names of God – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare!