Consequences of Harboring Unlawful Desires
This article explores the spiritual and material repercussions of maintaining unlawful desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda examines the theological root of these desires—specifically the attempt to imitate God—and details how the laws of nature act to strip away the false security and wealth of those who harbor them, ultimately pointing toward the path of liberation.
Root Cause of Material Existence
The primary unlawful desire is the living entity's wish to separate from Kṛṣṇa and occupy the position of the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this desire to "become one with the Lord" or to control material nature is the seed of the entire cosmic manifestation. The material world is created specifically to facilitate this misguided propensity.
- A living entity's unlawful desire to become one with the Lord in every respect is the root cause of the entire material manifestation, for otherwise the Lord has no need to create such a manifestation, even for His pastimes.
- By engagement in devotional service in full Krsna consciousness, he is immediately situated in the transcendental position, and his unlawful desire to control material nature is removed.
Karmic Reactions and Material Loss
Nature imposes strict penalties on those driven by unlawful desires. The wealth and security accumulated through such mentalities are not allowed to remain; Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how they are forcibly removed by the agents of māyā. Sickness, legal troubles, taxation, and natural disturbances are the means by which the illusory energy reclaims what was unlawfully gathered.
- In proportion to the people's unlawful desires, their accumulated money is taken away by the agents of illusory energy in the shape of medical practitioners, lawyers, tax collectors, societies, constitutions, so-called holy men, famines and earthquakes.
- O my Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by all material anxieties - they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body and friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia.
Path to Salvation
To achieve freedom from this cycle of anxiety and loss, one must actively conquer these unlawful propensities. This involves a conscious effort to stop making independent plans for sense gratification and to overcome the associated vices of lust, anger, and avarice through spiritual practice.
- As far as salvation is concerned, one has to conquer the principles of lust, anger, unlawful desires, avarice and bewilderment.
- To get freedom from anger, one should learn how to forgive. To be free from unlawful desires one should not make plans.
Conclusion
Unlawful desires are not merely bad habits but are the foundational error of the conditioned soul. As Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes, they manifest as the desire to control and enjoy apart from God, leading inevitably to suffering, fear, and the loss of hard-earned assets. By abandoning the tendency to make independent plans and surrendering to the Supreme Lord, the living entity is relieved of these desires and the heavy karmic reactions that accompany them.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vāṇī
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Unlawful Desires. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.