{"id":5270,"date":"2022-05-27T09:01:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T03:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=5270"},"modified":"2023-04-22T20:04:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-22T14:34:05","slug":"conquering-anarthas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/krishna-talk-articles\/dhiralalita-dasi\/conquering-anarthas\/","title":{"rendered":"Conquering Anarthas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question: <\/strong>What are anarthas<\/em> and how do we overcome them?<\/h2>\n

Answer: <\/strong>Anartha<\/em> literally means those things which are unnecessary. In this case it refers to things that are unnecessary in our devotional development. Anarthas<\/em> are sometimes also referred to as having separate interest from K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. They generally come in the form of lust, anger, greed, pride, illusion and envy.<\/p>\n

In order to eliminate anarthas<\/em> we must first control the mind so that the desires of the mind can be purified. If we are able to control the mind, then we will be able to introspect and better understand what lies within the heart. The mind itself can be our greatest strength or greatest weakness.<\/p>\n

For example, engaging in Deity worship while allowing the mind to meditate on mundane topics is the result of an uncontrolled mind. We can observe that our consciousness may not be very elevated, but by absorbing the mind in serving the Deity it can slowly become purified.<\/p>\n

We must give this kind of attention to all services and not simply to our own needs. By fulfilling K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s desires, we feel inner satisfaction for acting with concentrated devotion. By watering the root of the tree (serving K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a) we become efficient, but by endeavouring to water each and every leaf (serving our various desires) we become unsteady. By fulfilling the Supreme Lord\u2019s needs, then automatically our needs are taken care of.<\/p>\n

The mind is always hovering over the bodily platform and if we don\u2019t endeavour to elevate it, then it will constantly bother us with mundane demands. Unless we purify the mind, there is no question of becoming freed from material conditioning. As the mind becomes purified the desire to associate with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s devotees also increases.<\/p>\n

Aside from engaging in service, how else can the mind be purified?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lord \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu came to give us the holy name, the yuga-dharma<\/em>, the golden gift. By chanting the Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Mah\u0101-Mantra and performing devotional service we can effectively purify the mind. This is the recommended process. We must also accept a bona-fide guru in a disciplic succession. When the guru is pleased then we can know that K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is pleased. This guru-disciple relationship must be genuine for it to be effective.<\/p>\n

Ultimately anarthas<\/em> stem from our misidentification with the body. \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da mentions this in the following purport to \u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam <\/em>7.5.32:<\/p>\n

\u201cBecoming K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a conscious brings about anartha-apagamah<\/em>, the disappearance of all anarthas, the miserable conditions we have unnecessarily accepted. The material body is the basic principle of these unwanted miserable conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

As long as we try to serve this material body we cannot have real freedom. Real freedom means to serve \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a and His devotees. Being bound by the chains of karma<\/em> our nature is to act and react. This is a very limited experience. In the same purport \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da continues:<\/p>\n

\u201cBhaktivinoda \u1e6ch\u0101kura has explained that materialistic education expands the influence of m\u0101y\u0101<\/em>. Such an education induces the conditioned soul to be increasingly attracted to materialistic life and to stray further and further away from liberation from unwanted miseries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Materialistic education increases the bodily concept of life, thus \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da recommended education for children with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a at the centre. \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da wanted serious practitioners who understand the value of this process.<\/p>\n

Without becoming clear of anarthas<\/em> we cannot and should not imitate higher Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cSometimes someone is found imitating devotional love, but factually he or she is not freed from anarthas<\/em>, or unwanted habits. It has been seen that a so-called devotee proclaims himself a follower of Nanda, Ya\u015bod\u0101, or the gop\u012bs<\/em>, while at the same time his abominable attraction for mundane sex life is visible. Such a manifestation of divine love is mere imitation and has no value. When one is actually spontaneously attracted to the loving principles of the gop\u012bs<\/em>, there will be found no trace of any mundane contamination in his character.\u201d (Nectar of Devotion<\/em> 16)<\/p>\n

In order to attain spontaneous attraction to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, we must take shelter of the Lord and fully depend upon Him. Queen Kunt\u012b prayed to Dv\u0101rak\u0101d\u012b\u015ba K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a to let there be calamities in order that that she could constantly remember Him.<\/p>\n

vipada\u1e25 santu t\u0101\u1e25 \u015ba\u015bvat tatra tatra jagad-guro
\n<\/em>bhavato dar\u015bana\u1e41 yat sy\u0101d apunar bhava-dar\u015banam<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.\u201d (\u015ar\u012bmad Bh\u0101gavatam <\/em>1.8.25)<\/p>\n

If we have no other shelter but K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, then when we are in distress, we can remember Him easily. Yet someone who has a very comfortable lifestyle, who is overly ambitious to serve themselves, depends upon material nature. Such comfort becomes an impediment to their advancement just like a golden cage from which it is very difficult to escape. They are dependent on the cycle of their good or bad karma. This is an anartha<\/em> \u2013 in other words, this is not necessary. We want to be in a situation that will allow us to remember K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a at every moment. Such a mentality leads to a renounced life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese desires, k\u0101ma, krodha, lobha \u2013 <\/em>lust, anger, greed \u2013 they are strangers. They are not rightful residents of the heart or mind.\u201d (\u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja)<\/p>\n

Our \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em> have stated with certainty that such anarthas<\/em> cannot survive in a K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a conscious environment. At present, we have accumulated so much karma<\/em>, so many bad habits, and so many sinful activities. We cannot ascertain how we have come to this world and this position that we are presently in, but we can understand where we are at by looking at ourselves and understanding our limitations. We should not be afraid to introspect at any moment and be very honest about our own position. Our own plight will help us to surrender to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Without the help of Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga Mah\u0101prabhu, the yug\u0101vat\u0101ra<\/em>, we do not stand a chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not very easy to get out of these bad habits, but when the devotee comes to realise with a faithful attitude the position and reality of the soul, Supersoul, and K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness proper, these unwanted desires will vanish.\u201d (\u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja)<\/p>\n

Following in the footsteps of the Six Gosv\u0101m\u012bs we can perform bhajana<\/em> for the pleasure of Mah\u0101prabhu.<\/p>\n

“The result of bhajana<\/em>, glorification of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the association of great saintly souls, is that these anarthas<\/em>, these miserable desires, will go away.” (\u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja)<\/p>\n

These \u2018miserable desires\u2019 are like prison. They are miserable for those who have them and others who have to tolerate them. Thus, it is imperative that we become free of these anarthas \u2013 <\/em>not just for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of others. We do not want to remain an embarrassment or a burden to others, especially in the presence of our spiritual master.<\/p>\n

The complete retirement of undesirable habits is called anartha-niv\u1e5btti<\/em>. Then and only then, will our real interest in K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness grow and we will get a taste (ruci<\/em>). By K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s grace, our consciousness of Him will develop even more (asakti<\/em>), then ecstasy will manifest (bh\u0101va<\/em>), and finally prema<\/em> (love for K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a). Without freedom from these unwanted habits, we cannot progress. We risk the danger of becoming devoid of Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava association, or we will delude ourselves in the pleasant shadow-world of the sahajiy\u0101<\/em> (imitationist). In that regard, our relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a will remain a dream.<\/p>\n

The will of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is paramount. There is no question of attaining prema<\/em> before all anarthas<\/em> are completely eradicated. Those who fool themselves into believing they have love of God without becoming free from anarthas<\/em>, are like those who dream that they are awake, even though they are still soundly sleeping in bed.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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