Enemy of a Conditioned Soul - Conquering the Internal Foes
The struggle for existence in the material world is defined by constant conflict. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the conditioned soul's true enemies are not rival businessmen or hostile governments, but rather the internal forces of the uncontrolled mind, the demanding senses, and the illusion of false ego.
The Internal Enemies
The greatest danger to our spiritual progress lies within our own consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as long as a person is driven by the desire to dominate material nature and satisfy the senses, the mind acts as a formidable enemy, keeping the soul trapped in the cycle of birth and death.
- A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
- A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
- Desire for overlording and sense gratification are the greatest enemies of the conditioned soul; but by the strength of Krsna consciousness, one can control the material senses, the mind and the intelligence.
- My dear King, as long as conditioned soul does not conquer his six enemies and come to the platform of self-realization by awakening his spiritual knowledge, he has to wander among different places and different species of life in this material world.
The Senses and Passions
When the soul tries to enjoy matter, it becomes subjected to intense psychological miseries. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights how unfulfilled lust inevitably transforms into anger (krodha), and how the unbridled tongue acts as a vicious enemy, forcing the living entity to commit countless sinful activities.
- The conditioned soul eternally suffers the pangs of material existence known as the threefold miseries. He is also subjected to six enemies (such as lust, anger, etc.). Such is the everlasting disease of the conditioned soul.
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, tara madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati. Among the senses, the tongue is the most formidable enemy of the conditioned soul. Urged by the tongue, one commits many sinful activities.
- When lust and hankering are unsatisfied, the element of krodha appears, which is the formidable enemy of the conditioned soul. This most sinful passion is represented as ahankara, or the false egocentric attitude of thinking oneself to be all in all.
- Only when a conditioned soul accepts the body as himself does he feel the effects of chastisement or praise. Then he determines one person to be his enemy and another his friend and wants to chastise the enemy and welcome the friend.
The Illusion of Material Enmity
Because the material world is built on exploitation, any temporary friendship can easily turn into bitter hatred. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that in the struggle for survival and wealth, conditioned souls inevitably cheat one another, breeding a culture of pervasive enmity.
- Sukadeva Gosvami proves that because the body of the conditioned soul is infected by the three qualities of nature, dualities arise such as enmity and friendship, attachment and detachment.
- In order to acquire these things (apartment, house, food, friends) he has to cheat others, and this creates enmity even among the most intimate friends. Sometimes this enmity is created between the conditioned soul and the father or spiritual master.
- Sometimes conditioned souls exchange money, but in due course of time, enmity arises because of cheating. Although there may be a tiny profit, the conditioned souls cease to be friends and become enemies.
- In the forest of the material world, the conditioned soul is sometimes bitten by envious enemies, which are compared to serpents and other creatures. Through the tricks of the enemy, the conditioned soul falls from his prestigious position.
Transcending Duality
The goal of spiritual life is to rise above the petty squabbles of the material plane. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Lord is completely transcendental to mundane enemies, and by focusing our attention on Him under the guidance of a spiritual master, we too can escape the illusion of duality.
- Sometimes the conditioned soul is very aggrieved by the chastisement of his enemies and government servants, who use harsh words against him directly or indirectly. At that time his heart and ears become very saddened.
- The conditioned soul has friends and enemies. He is affected by the good qualities and the faults of his position. The Supreme Lord, however, is always transcendental. Because He is the isvara, the supreme controller, He is not affected by duality.
- The spiritual master, the servant of God, is engaged in the most confidential service of the Lord, namely delivering all the conditioned souls from the clutches of maya, in which one thinks, "This person is my enemy, and that one is my friend."
- If a conditioned soul, thinking of the Lord as an enemy or a friend, somehow or other becomes attached to the Lord, he receives great benefit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda completely redefines the concept of enmity for the conditioned soul. While we waste our lives fearing external adversaries and navigating the treacherous, cheating nature of material society, our true destroyers hide within. The uncontrolled mind, the greedy tongue, and the devastating passions of lust and anger are the actual enemies keeping us chained to the cycle of birth and death. Because the conditioned soul falsely identifies with the material body, it becomes entangled in the illusion of māyā, artificially designating other living entities as friends or enemies based on temporary, bodily interactions. However, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolutely transcendental to these petty dualities. To achieve true peace and ultimate liberation, the living entity must take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master, who expertly delivers the soul from the illusion of mundane enmity. By utilizing the mighty weapon of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the conditioned soul can finally conquer the six internal enemies, purify the mind, and return to their original, blissful position in the spiritual sky.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Enemy of a Conditioned Soul. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.