Disease of the Heart - The Spiritual Malady of Lust
The material world is characterized by an ongoing struggle for sense gratification, which the Vedic literatures identify not as a natural state, but as a severe psychological and spiritual illness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the disease of the heart is hṛd-roga-kāma—the burning lust that destroys our peace and can only be cured by transcendental medicine.
The Definition of the Heart Disease
To treat an illness, one must first properly diagnose it. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the true disease afflicting humanity is not merely physical; it is the deep-seated, inauspicious desire for material sense enjoyment that contaminates the consciousness.
- The material world means there is a heart disease which is called kama, hrd-roga-kama.
- Inauspicious things means the heart disease for sense enjoyment; this is inauspicious.
- The real disease is in the heart. If the mind is cleansed, however, if consciousness is cleansed, a person cannot be harmed by the material disease.
- The Vedic versions in this connection are, (Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad 6.2.15): "Those who are free from all material desires, which are diseases of the heart, are able to conquer death and enter the kingdom of God through the Arci planets."
The Symptoms of the Diseased Heart
A heart infected by material lust causes constant distress for the living entity. As Śrīla Prabhupāda notes, just as a physical ailment brings discomfort and a distorted perception of reality, the spiritual heart disease prevents the mind from ever finding true satisfaction or peace.
- If one becomes Krsna conscious, then he can give up this heart disease; otherwise this disease of lusty desires will continue, and one cannot have peace in his mind.
- To have a satisfied mind, one must give up his heart disease of lusty desires. This can be done only when one is Krsna conscious.
- A drunkard, for example, or a person with heart disease, sometimes feels that the land is moving. Similarly, the reflections of trees in a flowing river also appear to move. These are the actions of maya.
- Now from smoking sometimes he gets bronchitis or something, some disease in the heart. So he goes to the doctor, he suffers, and he takes medicine and he is cured, then again smoking, again do the same thing.
The Cure: Hearing Kṛṣṇa's Pastimes
The medicine for treating kāma (lust) is uniquely transcendental. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that by submissively hearing the apparently intimate pastimes of Kṛṣṇa from a bona fide spiritual master, the material lust within the heart is miraculously suppressed and permanently vanquished.
- We have got a heart disease. Heart disease means lusty desire. Hrd-roga-kamam apahinoti: "It becomes vanquished." If one actually hears Krsna's rasa-lila, then no more material lusty desires, this is the result.
- Actually, by hearing about rasa-lila the result will be that one will be raised to the platform of transcendental service, and the disease of lust within the heart - that is material disease - that will be completely vanquished.
- When one hears or describes with great faith the pastimes of Lord Krsna, such as His rasa dance with the gopis, the disease of lusty desires in his heart and the agitation caused by the three modes of material nature are immediately nullified.
- If a bona fide listener hears of Krsna's pastimes with the gopis, which seem to be lusty affairs, the lusty desires in his heart, which constitute the heart disease of the conditioned soul, will be vanquished, and he will become a most exalted devotee.
The Medicine of the Holy Name
Alongside hearing the Lord's pastimes, active engagement in the chanting process provides a constant, purifying treatment. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that vibrating the holy name acts as the ultimate cleansing agent, gradually removing all material greed and restoring the soul's natural, healthy attraction to Kṛṣṇa.
- So we have to cure this heart disease, hrd-roga-kama. And that will be done simply by chanting and hearing the Hare Krsna mantra. Ceto-darpana-marjanam.
- To cure the heart disease of lusty desires and greediness is chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam.
- The more you chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, your, the heart disease, material enjoyment, that will decrease, and then you will understand what is your position and you will be gradually attracted by Krsna.
- Material lust is a kind of heart disease, and to cure the material heart disease of the conditioned soul, it is recommended that one should hear, but not from the impersonalist rascals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a profound spiritual diagnosis for the suffering of the modern world: the true epidemic is hṛd-roga-kāma, the burning disease of lust and material desire within the heart. As long as this disease remains untreated, the conditioned soul will suffer from a restless mind, endless agitation, and the miserable cycle of repeated birth and death. However, the Vedic literatures offer a potent, infallible medicine. By submissively hearing the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa—especially His highly elevated rāsa-līlā with the gopīs—from authorized, bona fide sources, the mundane lust in the heart is immediately suppressed and eradicated. Furthermore, the daily administration of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra acts as a powerful cleansing agent (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam), continuously washing away the infection of greed and material attachment. By strictly following this treatment plan of hearing and chanting under proper guidance, the diseased conditioned soul is fully cured, achieving a completely peaceful, satisfied mind and the ultimate healthy state of pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Disease Of The Heart. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.