Question: My question has to do with acting as an adult, striving to regain my connection with Krishna, while managing materialistic desires acquired from so many years of materialistic contamination.
I theoretically understand that I cannot sail having one foot in the spiritual boat and the other in material, both headed in opposite directions. In one class you mentioned that willingly accepting time-wasting and sense gratificatory activity ‘in moderation’ is an untenable solution. Rather, you mentioned that what is critical is how we make decisions about addressing our past conditioning while proceeding towards Krishna.
My question is about the consciousness while making those decisions for ourselves: Is it that we must not be artificially controlling the materialistic desires or that the more we feed such desires, it only increases – adding fuel to the fire?
Answer by Romapada Swami: During the same class another question was raised which addresses your question above. Rupa Goswami sets the standard for what is real and sustainable renuciation.
Yatha-artham means “according to suitability”.
We must position ourselves in relation to sense objects in such a way that we can *sustain* our detachment — while we seek to incrementally move the fulcrum of life towards the position where there is ever-increasingly less involvement with matter in an enjoying spirit, instead towards ever-increasing bhakti.
Bhakti is the operative force protecting us.
The notion of “indulging in moderation” is precisely as you indicated: the more we feed such desires, it only increases – adding fuel to the fire.
Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.255-6 of Srila Rupa Gosvami
anasaktasya vishayan yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krishna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate
prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumukshubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate
SYNONYMS
anasaktasya—of one who is without attachment; vishayan—to material sense objects; yatha-arham—according to suitability; upayunjatah—engaging; nirbandhah—without bondage; krishna-sambandhe—in relationship with Krishna; yuktam—proper; vairagyam—renunciation; ucyate—is called; prapancikataya—as material; buddhya—with the understanding; hari-sambandhi-vastunah—of things which are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; mumukshubhih—by those who desire liberation; parityagah—the renunciation; vairagyam phalgu—inferior renunciation; kathyate—is termed.
TRANSLATION
When one is not attached to anything but at the same time accepts anything in relation to Krishna, one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Krishna is not as complete in his renunciation.
