Have you ever found yourself completely consumed by either emotions or people?
Some people totally fascinate us with their charm and beauty. We simply wish to keep on gazing at them. Others, through their unjust or offensive behavior, dominate our thoughts through hurt and agitation. And sometimes, powerful emotions like lust, envy, or anger entirely take over our consciousness. When these thoughts consume us, we get overwhelmed and overpowered by them to such an extent that we forget everything else.

Consumed by Lust:

When Rāvaṇa saw Rambha who was Nalakuvera’s fiance, he became maddened by lust. Nalakuvera was Kuvera’s son, and thus, Rambha was as good as his daughter. Although Rambha pleaded with him, Ravana was like an elephant tormented by lust. He forcefully united with Rambha. When Nalakuvera came to know this, he cursed Ravana that his head would explode if he tried to coerce any woman without her consent.

Ravana’s consumption led to him getting cursed!

Consumed by Envy:

When Dakṣa entered the grand sacrificial arena, everyone rose to greet him—except Lord Śiva and Brahmā. While Dakṣa didn’t mind his father Brahmā remaining seated, he could not tolerate Śiva’s silence. His heart burned with envy. This envy consumed him so deeply that he cursed Lord Śiva and publicly criticized him. The results?
He lost his daughter Satī.
His entire yajna was destroyed.
He received a goat’s head as a result of his punishment.

The consumption of envy cost Dakṣa heavily.

Consumed by Power:

When Nahusha temporarily assumed the position of Indra, the king of the heavens, he became consumed with power. So much so that he ordered the great sages, saptarsis, to carry his palanquin because he wanted to unite with Indra’s wife, Śacī. She had put that condition upon Nahusha. As the sages were carrying the palanquin very slowly, an impatient Nahusha started yelling at the sages to move faster (sarpa, sarpa). An enraged Agastya Rishi cursed him to become a sarpa, or a serpent.

His head and feet were both high in the clouds, but he slithered down to the ground because of his getting consumed by power.

Above are some examples whose consumption in material things only resulted in their own disgrace.

Consumed by Love:

On the other end of the spectrum we have devotees whose absorption in the eternal led them access guru and Krishna’s grace in an unprecedented manner.

His Holiness Giriraja Maharaja recollects how he was consumed by love for Shrila Prabhupada. He was so enchanted by Prabhupada’s demeanor that even his dreams would be filled with Prabhupada’s talks, actions, behavior and instructions. His mind, heart, and consciousness were consumed—not by illusion, but by divine love.
The gopis say about Krishna,
madhurayā girā valgu-vākyayā
budha-manojñayā puṣkarekṣaṇa
vidhi-karīr imā vīra muhyatīr
adhara-sīdhunāpyāyayasva naḥ
O lotus-eyed one, Your sweet voice and charming words, which attract the minds of the intelligent, are bewildering us more and more. Our dear hero, please revive Your maidservants with the nectar of Your lips. SB 10.31.8

What a beautiful feeling it is to get totally consumed by thoughts of Shrila Prabhupada, our spiritual masters and Krishna!

Where do We Rest Our Emotions?

We have to be consumed by something. If not by lust, anger, or envy—then maybe by worry, fear, or insecurity. This material world is designed to entangle our emotions, if we don’t intentionally anchor them in something higher. If our mind and heart are not absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, they will be swallowed by the endless complexities of the material world.

On the other hand, spiritual consumption leads to liberation even while living. As is stated,
īhā yasya harer dāsye
karmaṇā manasā girā
nikhilāsv apy avasthāsu
jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate
“A person acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness with his body, mind, intelligence and words is a liberated person even within the material world, although he may be engaged in many so-called material activities.”

Each and every day, before taking rest, we must think – What was I consumed by, today?

The answer we give to ourselves will define our position as well as our disposition, and it has the power to affect our destination.