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RESTRICTING ASSOCIATION WITH WOMEN            13

              “Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the
          mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. The more the mind
          dwells on sense gratification, the more it is dissatisfied.” 32
              Understanding this, the transcendentalist undergoes tapasya
          (austerity), giving up sense gratification. But even giving up sense
          gratification by practicing the rules and regulations of spiritual life
          is not enough—we also have to give up meditating on sense
          gratification. Unless and until we completely give up all hope of
          trying to enjoy this material world, we will not be able to firmly fix
          our intelligence; we will have ups and downs and will not taste the
          true bliss of Kåñëa consciousness.
              Çréla Prabhupäda: “If our mind is filled with sense
          gratification, even though we want Kåñëa consciousness, by
          continuous practice we cannot forget the subject of sense
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          gratification.” And, “in the Caitanya-caritämåta it is stated that if
          someone sincerely wants to see the Lord and at the same time
          wants to enjoy this material world, he is considered to be a fool
          only.” 34  Therefore, “it is the duty of the transcendentalist to try
          strenuously to control desire.” 35

               RESTRICTING ASSOCIATION WITH WOMEN

              Since the dawn of history, materialists have written thousands
          of books about dealing with women, and it is still a mystery to
          them. Especially if women are accepted as sense objects,
          relationships with them remain inextricably complex: nectar in the
          beginning, poison in the end. The brahmacäré has no real business
          associating with women—whatever must be there, he keeps as
          brief as possible. He knows that the male human form is meant for
          self-realization, and that attraction to the female form blocks such
          spiritual advancement.
              Therefore the Vedic culture has always carefully restricted the
          mixing of men and women. Most of the time traditional
          brahmacärés wouldn’t see women at all, as they would be busy with
          their studies. Addressing all women as mätä  (mother), the only
          relationship they might have was with their guru’s wife, who in the
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