Instead of using our senses in the service of Krishna, we use it for sense gratification thinking that this will give us great joy. Let us reflect on our life and ask ourselves if indulging in sense gratification really gives us pleasure?
We may say, “Yes when I eat a piece of pineapple pastry then I feel happy. Or if I watch a movie of my favourite star then I feel happy.”
But the question is how long that happiness lasts. For example, if you have eaten your favourite mango ice cream a month back, then is it still giving joy to your tongue? Or, you might have watched a movie a year back, then is it still making you happy?
We know the answer, “It is not.” Sense gratification can give us only temporary pleasure. And the pleasure is also not much.
So, is it not better to use our senses in such a way that the happiness which we experience never diminishes by time but instead multiplies by time? And the quantity of pleasure too is huge.
This is indeed possible. For this, we have to use our senses in the service of Krishna. Krishna is eternal, so any service to Krishna is eternal. Krishna is the source of all pleasures, so if we use our senses in the service of Krishna then pleasure is guaranteed.
Many times, we read stories of great devotees who give up all material power, positions, possessions and retire to the forest to meditate on the Lord. This is because the happiness which they begin experiencing by absorbing themselves in Krishna is far more than what they were getting when they were trying to gratify their senses through worldly means.
Make senses Krishna Conscious
Now, you and I may not have to go to the forest to attain that joy. Scriptures tell us how we can engage our senses in the service of Krishna and enjoy a happy life.
Let us see how to do it.
Instead of watching movies, TV serials, YouTube videos, we can use our eyes in relishing the divine beauty of the Lord. Instead of listening to movie songs or hearing endless useless news, we should use our ears in hearing the glories of the Lord. Instead of using our tongue in discussing politics, sports or movies, we can use it in chanting the name of the Lord like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
In spiritual life we can use our tongue in enjoying delicious food too. So, if you like pineapple pastry or pizza then you can first offer it to Krishna with love so that he can eat. After Krishna eats the offered food, we can eat it too. The offered food is now not ordinary food but divine food, prasadam. When you eat it, you won’t just enjoy the taste but will get the mercy of the Lord too.
By being engaged in Krishna conscious activities, our senses will become purified and will begin experiencing higher taste. And then our senses will lose taste for material sense gratification.
Srila Prabhupada says, “When one is actually Kṛṣṇa conscious, he automatically loses his taste for pale things.” Bhagavad Gita 2.59 purport
Three Reflections
- Let us reflect on our life and ask ourselves if indulging in sense gratification really gives us pleasure?
- Happiness, one experiences in using senses in the service of Krishna is far more when used for sense gratification.
- By experiencing higher taste, senses lose taste for material sense gratification.
Ask Yourself
- Do I feel happy when I take the darshan of the Lord in the temple?
Action Item
- Instead of hearing political news or movie songs, start hearing lecture of Srila Prabhupada at least 30 minutes daily.
- Also read Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam for at least 30 minutes daily.
