Prabhupada would say, “My only worry is my disciples are not enough afraid of maya.”
Material energy is extremely powerful. And the entire sum and substance of material existence boils down to sex life.
Therefore, it is said in SB 5.5.8,
The attraction between male and female is the basic principle of material existence. On the basis of this misconception, which ties together the hearts of the male and female, one becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth. In this way one increases life’s illusions and thinks in terms of “I and mine.”
Even a moment’s interaction with material energy is often enough to disturb the heart. And many a times, even after prolonged exposure, spiritual stimulus may not withstand in the heart.
Let us try to see some examples wherein personalities got bewildered by this influence of material energy, in co-relation with the social media.
What can a DP do?
Many a times, I have seen people magnifying and looking at the DP’s of others – to see them clearly! While someone may feel it is not such a big thing, even DP’s have the power to bewilder anyone.
Viśvāmitra Muni didn’t even see the DP! He had his eyes closed, and simply heard the tinkling ankle bells of Menakā, and that alone captivated him. And he united with her. If a ringtone can do so much, can a DP not do it’s job?
Just one more Reel !!
We may sometimes feel – what can one Insta reel do? After all, I am doing so much of bhakti. Little ‘masti’ should also be okay. And we tend to let our senses loose.
But, one Insta reel never stops there…! It turns into a full Netflix Episode!
Ajamila watched only one reel of the sudra and prostitute embracing and kissing each other. One reel was enough to spoil his entire life! He dived headlong into sense gratification. He fathered many sons, and the last son he had when he was 88. How could he be so ignorant and foolish?! Maya cheated him thoroughly.
The Whole Netflix Series of Yāyāti
Yayāti Mahārāja, when lifting Devayānī out of a well, was captivated by a single interaction, again call it a DP or a reel. And what followed was an entire Netflix series of sense enjoyment!
He spent thousands of years indulging in lust with her. Later, he even exchanged his old age with his son so he could continue with his enjoyment. This was the height of his shamelessness!
One small episode in our life can become a long-running series if we are not careful.
The Sequel to Netflix Series!
Purūravā was enchanted by Urvaśī. Even though the production of his Netflix series stopped when Urvaśī left him, his mind still desired sequels.
He became so blinded by lust, that he even prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the fulfillment of his material desires. His movie was published in three sequels, or rather four.
First, when he enjoyed Urvasi till she left. Second, his subsequent lamentation and desire to have her. Third, uniting with her once a year, despondent for that one day for the whole year. And fourth, praying to the Lord for getting transferred to her planet.
And finally, after these four sequels, he got frustrated and realized that he had spent his time uselessly in sense gratification.
How much careful should we be! So many examples from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other scriptures are repeatedly teaching us the dangers of sense gratification.
Make Your Life a Netflix Series of Bhakti!
Rather than wasting our lives in petty sense gratification, if we awaken to spiritual stimulus, it can help us go closer to Krishna.
For Mahaprabhu, one DP was enough to go in ecstatic trance! He would see any river, and jump in it thinking it to be Yamuna. Any hill – he would remember Govardhana.
Many disciples of Srila Prabhupada – they just saw devotees dancing on the streets – that one reel took them to the temple, and they became full time devotees, dedicating their entire lives to Krishna Consciousness.
There were many others, who produced many Netflix series – opened many temples, did tremendous services for Srila Prabhupada, and made their lives a perfect offering to Krishna.
Serving guru and Krishna is the only worthwhile thing we can do in our lives. Everything else is bound to get vanished into oblivion.
Interestingly, at the life’s end, we will all be shown a reel – of all our activities we did whole throughout our lives. And, the most absorbing moments will appear in that reel. Do we want the scenes of sense gratification to come in front, or do we want the bliss of Krishna Consciousness to overpower those? It all depends on how we have lived our lives, and which reels we have given prominence to, while living on a day-to-day basis.
