Friday 9 October 2015

The three gates leading to Hell


tri-vidham narakasyedam
dvāram nāśanam ātmanah
kāmah krodhas tathā lobhas
tasmād etat trayam tyajet
There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.(Bhagavad Gita 16.21)
Lust, Anger and greed as explained by Lord Krishna are the three gates that leads one who is affected by these qualities to hell. These qualities should be given up by a man of discrimination because, they cause the degradation of the soul. Generally, the demons are described as having these qualities and a person who becomes prey to these himself  becomes demoniac. And, of all the three a lust is considered as the most deadliest and insatiable and difficult to control. It is said that nothing in the three worlds can ever satisfy a lusty person. Lust is said to be more deadly than a snake poison because, a snake bite can be cured by administering a right antidote but, there is no remedy for lust.
Thus, when one tries to satisfy lust, there are some serious implications. One who is lusty can never be satisfied permanently. And, when one get temporary enjoyment and happiness by the action, they in-turn make him more lusty and more greedy, because he wants that happiness more and more. When someone is unable to satisfy lust, anger develops and greed arises. That is , whatever he is not able to enjoy, even other also should not be able to enjoy.
This is what happened in the case of Ravana, who was so lusty that he was not happy, even after having enjoyed beautiful woman, and having hundreds of wives, the moment he heard about Mother Sita and incited by Shurpanaka, he immediately wanted to enjoy her.Disguised as a saint, he kidnapped her by force. In the process he lost everything, including his brother, his son and all his army of demons. Finally, he lost his life killed by mighty arrows of Lord Rama.The problem of Ravana is that he wanted to enjoy Sita, separately from Lord Rama.
Generally, Lust is used to denote a strong desire for sex, but it can also mean lot of things like being lusty for power. Basically, any strong or dirty desire that is abnormal and cannot be satisfied. The only way to control lust is by purifying ones consciousness by practice of spirituality, by developing right conduct, regulating ones life and habits, developing vairagya or detachment. By experiencing a higher, spiritual taste one gradually able to gives up the lower modes and tastes.
Once a colleague of mine told me that, he was cleaning up his bedroom, ward robe and took out nearly 25 t shirts and shirts. Some of them he wore only once or twice and others he never wore them at all. Then, I asked him why did you buy so many, when you don't or cant wear them?.This is OK, I thought especially when I remembered the wife of former dictator  president and military rules of Philippines,served as a First Lady  she had about a collection of 3000 shoes which were destroyed by termites and floods after lying in storage for 26 years.

Nothing in this world can satisfy a lusty person.

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