Transforming the Lusty Desires of Men

This article explores the driving forces behind the material activities of men—specifically lust and the desire for acquisition—and the Vedic solution for finding true peace. It examines the relentless nature of these desires, the specific plight of the aging materialist, and the spiritual science of transforming selfish lust into pure devotional service.

The Root of Material Existence

The interaction between men and women is the pivot of material existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a man's consciousness is often captivated by the physical features of women, leading to a life centered around satisfying sexual appetites. This mutual attraction, while natural in the material world, is based on the illusory concept of finding happiness through the senses.

• Both man and woman desire one another; that is the basic principle of material existence. Women in general always keep themselves beautiful so that they can be attractive to their lusty husbands.
• When a man looks upon a woman with lusty desires, he is captivated by her face, her breasts and her waist, for a woman first attracts a man to fulfill his sexual desires by the beautiful features of her face, by the slope of her breasts and by her waist.
• The man is thinking that "Mixing with this woman, I'll satisfy my sense desire," and woman is thinking that "By mixing with this man, I shall satisfy my desire."

The Illusion of Wealth and Power

Beyond sexual desire, the materialist is driven by an unlimited thirst for wealth and status. This desire is described as insatiable; regardless of how much one accumulates, the hankering for "more" continues. This pursuit characterizes the demoniac mentality, where one is absorbed in securing resources for sense gratification without limit.

• A poor man may desire to have a thousand dollars in the bank, but a rich man who has millions has no such desire. If Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why should He have desires.
• The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. That is unlimited.
• Men absorbed in desire and lust are called asuras, and they are always chasing after women and money.

The Agony of Unfulfilled Desire in Old Age

One of the most tragic aspects of material life is that while the body ages and fails, the desires within the mind do not fade. An old man may lose the physical capacity to enjoy women or wealth, yet the desire to do so remains strong, causing a miserable state of frustration.

• In old age the senses lose their strength, and although an old man desires to enjoy his senses, and especially sex life, he is very miserable because his instruments of enjoyment no longer function.
• Time deteriorates even the body itself, which is the medium for all sensual satisfaction, but even when a man becomes old and invalid, his desires are strong enough to dictate that he go here and there to satisfy the desires of his senses.
• You don't think that old man has got less desire than the young man. He has got the desire, but his instrument is finished.

Purification: Turning Iron into Gold

The Vedic solution is not to become artificially desireless, which is akin to being dead, but to purify the desires. When a man's desires are dovetailed with the desires of the Supreme Lord—working for Kṛṣṇa instead of his own senses—the quality of his life changes from material iron to spiritual gold. This transformation leads to genuine peace and liberation.

• Who can become desireless? It is not possible. If I am desireless, then I am a dead man. A dead man has no desire. So that is not possible. We have to purify the desires.
• In the Caitanya-caritamrta the lusty desire of the gopis is compared to gold. The lusty desires of a materialistic man, on the other hand, are compared to iron. At no stage can iron and gold be equated.
• Spiritual culture means pursuing a better engagement in life. When a man engages in such cultural life, the desire for mating automatically abates, and the sufferings of uncontrolled family life are mitigated without artificial means.
• When the poor man dovetails his desires with those of the rich man and when there is cooperation between the poor man and the rich man, or between the big and the small man, then the enjoyment is shared equally. That is like bhakti-yoga.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the cessation of suffering for a man lies in the purification of his intent. As long as desires are self-centered, they remain like iron—heavy, binding, and prone to rust. By associating with devotees and engaging in bhakti-yoga, a man learns to desire for Kṛṣṇa's pleasure. In this state, the incessant flow of material cravings is pacified, and one achieves the peace of an ocean that remains undisturbed despite the rivers entering into it.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Desires of Men. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.