Defeat the three formidable enemy – lust, anger and greed – if you want to be happy in life and advance in Krishna Consciousness. Bhagavad Gita compares them to gateway to hell.
There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul. Bhagavad Gita 16.21
While practicing devotion to Krishna, we struggle because of it. They easily overpower us. Most of the time as soon as we are afflicted by thoughts of lust or anger or greed, we succumb to it. We have been surrendering to these nasty thoughts countless number of times life after life, so, now we think it is impossible to not give in to it.
If we observe our life, we will see that many times it is not the external problems which makes us miserable but our inner thoughts which are full of impurities (anarthas) which makes us sad.
For a happy life we have to cleanse our heart from all the impurities especially that of lust, anger and greed. And the best way to do is by chanting the names of Krishna. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that “Chanting cleanses the heart of all the impurities.” So, if we consistently chant the names of Krishna then our heart will get cleansed giving us relief from all the sufferings.
But when we begin chanting the names of Krishna, we continue to be disturbed by our mind and senses. Lust, anger and greed do not go away easily. Sometimes it looks that it is impossible to free ourselves from these nasty thoughts. But we have to endeavour with determination.
Our determination should be life that of a sparrow who had dared to dry the ocean.
When little sparrow tried to dry the ocean
Once the ocean stole the eggs of a sparrow. The little bird was heartbroken. She wanted her eggs back. The sparrow pleaded the ocean to give back the eggs, but the mighty ocean ignored her.
She begged ocean many times, but the ocean did not even bother to listen her. But she was determined to get her eggs back. She lost her patience. Finally, she warned the ocean, “Return my eggs else I will dry you”. Hearing this ocean started laughing. But the sparrow was resolute in her purpose.
With her tiny little beak, she took few drops of water from the ocean and threw it on the surface. She did it again and again. Everyone was amused; the ocean could not control his laughter. But nothing deterred the sparrow. She continued with her endeavour without thinking about success or failure.
News spread everywhere about the resolve of an insignificant creature to dry the gigantic ocean. Finally, her efforts attracted the attention of Garuda, the king of the birds and the carrier of Lord Vishnu.
Garuda threatened the ocean and said, “Return her eggs immediately or else I will completely dry you now.” Seeing the huge size of Garuda, ocean became frightened and within no time retuned back the eggs of the bird.
Krishna will surely intervene if we are determined
So, if like the sparrow we take a resolve to defeat the thoughts of lust, anger and greed then it will attract the attention of Krisna. Krishna who is Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of all the senses, will intervene and will easily purify our impure senses.
Our heart will get free from impurities of lust, anger and greed bringing us relief. And also, Krishna’s love will manifest in our heart bringing us great joy.
So, let us be determined not to give up chanting the names of Krishna and also be determined not to give in to lust, anger and greed.
Three Reflections
- Defeat the three formidable enemy – lust, anger and greed – if you want to be happy in life.
- Little sparrow’s efforts attracted the attention of Garuda, the king of the birds and the carrier of Lord Vishnu.
- Our determination will attract Krishna’s attention, and he will cleanse our heart of the impurities of lust, anger and greed.
Ask Yourself
- Am I being troubled by lust, anger and greed?
Action Item
- Have you completed your chanting today? If not, then put everything aside and chant the names of Krishna.
