Ajamila was a reservoir of good qualities and good character.However on seeing a sudra engaged with a prostitute , even though he was a fully qualified brahmana, the dormant lusty desires in his heart were revived and he could not stop himself from pursuing them.
Do not underestimate Maya
Ajamila was only an audience to such a scene probably the first time in his life but it was enough to stimulate his lower nature and cause him to fall from his glorious position of a qualified brahmana.If a firmly established brahmana like Ajamila could fall to pursue his lusty desires how can our devotional service situated on the foundation of inattentiveness help us when we are audience to similar scenes and sensual stimulants over and over again while executing our daily duties.These will only increase our sinful disposition.
Images, prajalpa through association of people and the written word, advertisements, etc bombard us in our day to day lives. Especially if we have certain detrimental habits like surfing the internet, attachment to the television and we do not follow the regulations of sadhana bhakti as explained by the acaryas and our Spiritual master's instructions carefully. Similarly reading books by Mayawada commentators is also as dangerous. It will act as slow poison and surely pull us away from bhakti.
Devotional service is the only way:
A sinful disposition is itself a sinful reaction. The disposition comes with karma or birth. We can stop the desire(kutam) from fructifying (bijam) by increased Krishna Consciousness. As Krishna promises in the Bhagavad Gita "aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma sucah" - He will deliver us from all sinful reactions if we surender unto Him completely and engage in devotional service with one pointed determination.This is a guarantee for the removal of sinful reactions in the form of the sinful disposition.
Devotional service that begins with the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord is very powerful and protects us from pursuing desires born of our sinful disposition.
Srila Prabhupada states in the Ajamila pastime " There are so many dangers in this material world that one may fall down from an exalted position at any time. Yet if one keeps himself always pure and steady by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he will be safe without a doubt."
The onus is on us
Even if we have the Holy Name, the association of devotees and Srila Prabhupada books unless we use the resources favorably we will leave scope for our dormant material desires to take over.
In the pastime of the Pandavas retiring from the material world, Draupadi saw that her husbands were leaving home without caring for her. But because she had received and followed instructions carefully during her lifetime she took care of herself without waiting for her husbands. She was able to fix her mind on the Lotus feet of Krsna and got the same result as her husbands.
We have to take care of ourselves during our lifetime else we can fall down like Ajamila and not reach the Ultimate goal. Srila Prabhupada writes for the above pastime " When flying an airplane, one cannot take care of other planes. Everyone has to take care of his own plane, and if there is any danger, no other plane can help another in that condition. Similarly, at the end of life, when one has to go back home, back to Godhead, everyone has to take care of himself without help rendered by another. The help is, however, offered on the ground before flying in space. Similarly, the spiritual master, the father, the mother, the relatives, the husband and others can all render help during one's lifetime, but while crossing the sea one has to take care of himself and utilize the instructions formerly received."
Follow the rules and regulations attentively:
Even if we refrain from activities of sense gratification and try to follow the rules and regulations of bhakti there is still a possibility of revival of our dormant desires if we are not attentive in our practice. Kala Krsna Das was Lord Chaitanya's personal servant during His south Indian yatra. He left Mahaprabhu's asssociation to join the Bhattatharis , who enticed him with women.
Srila Prabhupada writes in this regard : "Even though a person may associate with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he can be allured by māyā and leave the Lord's company due to his slight independence..........This is factual evidence showing that it is possible at any time to fall down from the Lord's association. One need only misuse his little independence. Once fallen and separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead's association, one becomes a candidate for suffering in the material world."
Following the rules and regulations carefully is extremely important to free us from the attack of Maya. The difference between one who falls down even after practicing and one who doesnt is the degreee of their attentiveness in their practice. Attentiveness in our chanting and hearing, while offering services, doing kirtan,controlling the minds demands is our safety net. Attentive devotional service is the only way to protect us from misusing our independence.
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