Page 31 - BIKC - Eng

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