Prescribed Duties a Vehicle for Mind Control

With mental health poised to become a disease of epidemic proportions, especially when the President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind makes a statement that the population of Indians affected by mental health diseases is greater than the population of Japan it would be nice to see what some scriptures and acharyas have to say about dealing with the mind.

Of course, some mental health issues need medication counseling etc but a lot of them can be nipped in the bud if one just follows their prescribed duties. If everyone follows their prescribed duties properly the society and social interactions are such that it creates a further favorable situation for everyone else to follow their prescribed duties.

Some important points from Srila Prabhupada's purports to the verses posted below. Srila Prabhupada explains how doing our varnashrama duties is important, varnasharama duties are given in the Vedas and if we follow we are on the safe platform else we can have a tremendous mental confusion:

• The varṇāśrama system is scientific. Therefore if we accept the divisions of varṇa and āśrama according to the Vedic instructions, our lives will be successful.(5.14)
• It is best, therefore, to accept the injunctions of the Vedas, which are mentioned in this verse as yad-vāci. In accordance with those injunctions, everyone should find out whether he is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra and should thus be educated accordingly. Then his life will be successful. Otherwise, all of human society will be confused. If human society is divided scientifically according to varṇa and āśrama, and if the Vedic directions are followed, one’s life, regardless of his position, will be successful.(5.14)

In this verse, Prabhupada explains the connection between Varnashrama Duties and the pleasure of the Lord.

• A brāhmaṇa can surrender, and so can a kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra. Everyone can adopt this process. As stated in this verse, cakṣuṣmatāndhā iva nīyamānāḥ: one should follow the Lord the way a blind man follows a person who has eyes. If we follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following the directions He gives in the Vedas and Bhagavad-gītā, our lives will be successful.
• The example cited in this verse is that bulls tied by ropes in their nostrils move according to the direction of the driver. Similarly, if we move according to the instructions of the Vedas, the perfect paths for our lives will be set. Otherwise, if we do not move in that way but act according to our whimsical ideas, our lives will be spoiled by confusion and will end in despair.(5.15)

Connection between Varnashrama Duties, The Lord's pleasure, Sense control and Mind Control

The sense organs are certainly our greatest enemies, and they are therefore compared to venomous serpents. However, if a venomous serpent is bereft of its poison fangs, it is no longer fearful.Similarly, if the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, there is no need to fear their activities.The devotees in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement move within this material world, but because their senses are fully engaged in the service of the Lord, they are always aloof from the material world. They are always living in a transcendental position.


Lord Brahma's Instructions to Maharaj Priyavrata:
SB 5.1.14 — My dear boy, all of us are bound by the Vedic injunctions to the divisions of varṇāśrama according to our qualities and work. These divisions are difficult to avoid because they are scientifically arranged. We must therefore carry out our duties of varṇāśrama-dharma, like bulls obliged to move according to the direction of a driver pulling on ropes knotted to their noses.
SB 5.1.15 — My dear Priyavrata, according to our association with different modes of material nature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives us our specific bodies and the happiness and distress we achieve. One must therefore remain situated as he is and be conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as a blind man is led by a person who has eyes with which to see.
SB 5.1.16 — Even if one is liberated, he nevertheless accepts the body he has received according to his past karma. Without misconceptions, however, he regards his enjoyment and suffering due to that karma the way an awakened person regards a dream he had while sleeping. He thus remains steadfast and never works to achieve another material body under the influence of the three modes of material nature.
SB 5.1.17 — Even if he goes from forest to forest, one who is not self-controlled must always fear material bondage because he is living with six co-wives — the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses. Even householder life, however, cannot harm a self-satisfied, learned man who has conquered his senses.
SB 5.1.18 — One who is situated in household life and who systematically conquers his mind and five sense organs is like a king in his fortress who conquers his powerful enemies. After one has been trained in household life and his lusty desires have decreased, he can move anywhere without danger.
SB 5.1.19 — Lord Brahmā continued: My dear Priyavrata, seek shelter inside the opening in the lotus of the feet of the Lord, whose navel is also like a lotus. Thus conquer the six sense organs [the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses]. Accept material enjoyment because the Lord, extraordinarily, has ordered you to do this. You will thus always be liberated from material association and be able to carry out the Lord’s orders in your constitutional position.
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Maya can only dominate the decietful

SB 12.6.29: This is indeed the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu's illusory energy, which is unstoppable and difficult to perceive. Although the individual spirit souls are part and parcel of the Lord, through the influence of this illusory energy they are bewildered by their identification with various material bodies.

SB 12.6.30-31: But there exists a supreme reality, in which the illusory energy cannot fearlessly dominate, thinking, "I can control this person because he is deceitful." In that highest reality there are no illusory argumentative philosophies. Rather, there the true students of spiritual science constantly engage in authorized spiritual investigation. In that supreme reality there is no manifestation of the material mind, which functions in terms of alternating decision and doubt. Created material products, their subtle causes and the goals of enjoyment attained by their utilization do not exist there. Furthermore, in that supreme reality there is no conditioned spirit, covered by false ego and the three modes of nature. That reality excludes everything limited or limiting. One who is wise should therefore stop the waves of material life and enjoy within that Supreme Truth.

The Lord's protection to the Brijwasis- Govardhan Hill Pastime

SB 10.25.18:
I must therefore protect the cowherd community by My transcendental potency, for I am their shelter, I am their master, and indeed they are My own family. After all, I have taken a vow to protect My devotees.

Since the Lord was the only shelter of the Brijwasis they were fearless in any condition- they had full faith in His protection. Oh Lord! please help me have similar faith in Your protection and help me take shelter of You in all situations. Let me not take shelter of my whimsical mind and intelligence. Please help me take shelter of You.

The Lord's Response to Indra's prayers

SB 10.27.15:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Indra, it was out of mercy that I stopped the sacrifice meant for you. You were greatly intoxicated by your opulence as King of heaven, and I wanted you to always remember Me.

SB 10.27.16:
A man blinded by intoxication with his power and opulence cannot see Me nearby with the rod of punishment in My hand. If I desire his real welfare, I drag him down from his materially fortunate position.


Earlier before lifting the Govardhan Hill tha Lord had expressed transcendental anger over Indra :


SB 10.25.17:
Since the demigods are endowed with the mode of goodness, the false pride of considering oneself the Lord should certainly not affect them. When I break the false prestige of those bereft of goodness, My purpose is to bring them relief.



Inspite of the purification given by the Lord and Indra's understanding of his fallen condition Indra still acts out of pride when the Lord comes to get the Parijata Flower for Satyabhama.

Oh Lord, I pray sincerely : inspite of all the mercy and chances to improve You have given to me- I remain stuck with my anarthas and I repeat the same mistakes. I cannot overcome my conditioning without your help and protection. Please help me to overcome these anarthas and develop Love for you- my Lord.

Friendship with Krsna makes a devotee fearless

SB 10.13.13: When Krishna saw that His friends the cowherd boys were frightened, He, the fierce controller even of fear itself, said, just to mitigate their fear, "My dear friends, do not stop eating. I shall bring your calves back to this spot by personally going after them Myself."

Purport:
In the presence of Krishna's friendship, a devotee cannot have any fear. Krishna is the supreme controller, the controller of even death, which is supposed to be the ultimate fear in this material world. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat (Bhag. 11.2.37). This fear arises because of lack of Krishna consciousness; otherwise there cannot be any fear. For one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Krishna, this material world of fear becomes hardly dangerous at all.

bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesham

Bhavambudhih, the material ocean of fear, becomes very easy to cross by the mercy of the supreme controller. This material world, in which there is fear and danger at every step (padam padam yad vipadam), is not meant for those who have taken shelter at Krishna's lotus feet. Such persons are delivered from this fearful world.

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesham

(Bhag. 10.14.58)

Everyone, therefore, should take shelter of the Supreme Person, who is the source of fearlessness, and thus be secure.

Hearing and chanting saves us from the danger of bad elements

SB 10.6.3: My dear King, wherever people in any position perform their occupational duties of devotional service by chanting and hearing [śravaṇaḿ kīrtanaḿ viṣṇoḥ SB 7.5.23], there cannot be any danger from bad elements. Therefore there was no need for anxiety about Gokula while the Supreme Personality of Godhead was personally present.

Devotees are special - The Lord is purchased by His devotees

In the pastime of Maharaj Ambarisha and Durvasa Muni - Durvasa Muni gets angry on Maharaj ambarisha for taking water to break his fast before offering Durvasa Muni any prasad to eat. He creates fiery demon to mill Ambarish Maharaj. However Ambarish Maharaj being an unalloyed devotee of the Lord does not get distrubed by the demon and the Lord's Sudarshana Chakra kills the fiery demon and then attacks Durvasa Muni.

To protect himself, Durvasa Muni starts running with the Sudarshan Chakra following him. He goes to Lord BRahma and Lord Shiva for protection but they say that they are also completely dependent upon Lord Vishnu and cannot do anything to stop the attack of the Sudarshan Chakra on him and they ask him to go to Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu also says that he cannot help him as nothing in the world is greater to Him than his devotee.In the verses SB 9.4.63-9.4.71 Lord Vishnu speaks very highly of the surrendered devotees and also about His love for them. Since the devotees are so selflessly engaged in loving service to the Lord , the Lord is purchased by them and offers complete protection to them. Since Durvasa Muni acted out of consideration for himself and pride the Lord did not offer him the same level of protection as He offers to Ambarisha Maharaj

1. I am under the control of My devotees SB 9.4.63  the Lord says :"I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me." - the Lord indicates to Durvasa Muni that Ambarisha Maharaj is a devotee and one who becomes a devotee of a devotee is also very special to him- the right thing for Durvasa Muni to do would be to honor and respect Ambarish Maharaj. Also Srila Prabhupada says in the purport "** if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa certainly becomes favorable to such a devotee. Following the instructions of a devotee is more valuable than following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly." So we must first learn to surrender to devotees if we can do that then we can surrender to the Spiritual Master and then Krishna.
2. I wish to be surrounded by saintly persons always SB 9.4.64 : "O best of the brāhmaṇas, without saintly persons for whom I am the only destination, I do not desire to enjoy My transcendental bliss and My supreme opulences." Krishna is so personal!
3. Since they are selflessly working for My pleasure- I must be with them SB 9.4.65: "Since pure devotees give up their homes, wives, children, relatives, riches and even their lives simply to serve Me, without any desire for material improvement in this life or in the next, how can I give up such devotees at any time?" The Lord gives all protection to the devotees because they are trying to serve Him incessantly.How can the Lord then not give Ambarisa Maharaj protection?
4. I am in control of My devotees SB 9.4.66 : "As chaste women bring their gentle husbands under control by service, the pure devotees, who are equal to everyone and completely attached to Me in the core of the heart, bring Me under their full control."
5. Do not hurt My devotees - it pains Me :SB 9.4.68: "The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them." - Srila Prabhupada says " The Lord's feelings are like those of a father, who feels pain when his child is in pain. Therefore, offenses at the lotus feet of a devotee are serious. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has very strongly recommended that one not commit any offense at the lotus feet of a devotee. "
6. I will forgive you, if you ask for forgiveness from Ambarisa Maharaj SB 9.4.69 : "O brāhmaṇa, let Me now advise you for your own protection. Please hear from Me. By offending Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, you have acted with self-envy. Therefore you should go to him immediately, without a moment's delay. One's so-called prowess, when employed against the devotee, certainly harms he who employs it. Thus it is the subject, not the object, who is harmed." Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport :"harmful activities directed against the devotee gradually become the ultimate cause of the performer's falldown. Even such a great brāhmaṇa and mystic yogī as Durvāsā was in a most dangerous situation because of his offense at the lotus feet of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, a pure devotee"

Lessons from Gajendra's pastime

False shelters are namesake, only Krishna is the ultimate protector and shelter:
Gajendra was the King of elephants and he enjoyed high influence over other animals, prestige, recreation and 5 Star enjoyment ( in the beautiful lake with his many wives), he was hardworking (sparying water on his wives and children) and also responsible as he maintained his large family. However inspite of such enjoyment and status when calamity struck none of his assets above could do anything to protect him.

Sukadeva Goswami narrates in SB 8.2.28:"Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in that grave condition, his wives felt very, very sorry and began to cry. The other elephants wanted to help Gajendra, but because of the crocodile's great strength, they could not rescue him by grasping him from behind"

None of the false shelters that give us a sense of security during the course of our life can do anything for us in our times of difficulties and also in our advancement in spiritual life. What are the false shelters: money, relationships, high education, position, etc. Only Lord Krishna's mercy can help us and is of true benefit. In Gajendra's case his false shelters could not help him, neither his own strength as he tried fighting on his own for 1000 years.Only when he remembered his past life and surrendered to the Lord that he was saved from the greatest calamity.

The false shelters are temporary. However I still find solace in these false shelters and derive my confidence from those and not from the surety of Krsna's protection. This is strong bodily identification. I Pray to Krishna that He situates me in the position of the spiritual identity of servant of the servant- only then will I be able to take shelter of Krishna only and none of these false shelters.

He desires full relase from material life and the present danger

Maya will attack us where we are the weakest: Gajendra was pulled into the water and he became drained of all his energy fighting in the water as he was not an animal of water.

SB 8.2.30: Thereafter, because of being pulled into the water and fighting for many long years, the elephant became diminished in his mental, physical and sensual strength. The crocodile, on the contrary, being an animal of the water, increased in enthusiasm, physical strength and sensual power.

Similarly Maya will lure us by attacking our weaknesses - we may have a weakness for power or fame. We might be doing our devotional service only for that purpose and not for pleasing Krishna. Maya will give us a service which satifies such weaknesses and gradually we will be blinded and fall down. So how can we become strong- there are so many areas we are weak?

Srila Prabhupada states in the purport to this verse "The soldiers in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must always possess physical strength, enthusiasm and sensual power. To keep themselves fit, they must therefore place themselves in a normal condition of life. What constitutes a normal condition will not be the same for everyone, and therefore there are divisions of varṇāśrama — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa." By serving in the normal condition of life our weaknesses will also be dovetailed in Krishna's service and will eventaully become purified. By chanting Hare Krishna all the cleansing will happen. So we must chant sincerely and beg to Krishna for strength.

Sincere rigourous practice is very important:
Like Gajendra we may have all the material facilities and enjoyments and also some major troubles going on in our life. Gajendra atleast came to the understanding that You are the only shelter and he offered such beaitiful prayers to You. However I find that during miseries I am spending my energy only to counteract them. I only briefly realize that You are the Supreme controller and I am powerless and You are the only shelter. However I am mostly on the side of trying to control the situation adn not accept it as Your mercy upon me. I become callous towards You again. Please save me Oh Krishna. Gajendera offered such beautiful prayers even when he was in so much pain with his leg in the mouth of the crocodile and the struggle for 1000 years. Yet he offered such eloquent prayers to the lord. This was the result of very sincere and concentrated practice which pleased the Lord and the Lord reminded him of the prayers he had learned in His past life as we see in

SB 8.3.1: Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, the King of the elephants, Gajendra, fixed his mind in his heart with perfect intelligence and chanted a mantra which he had learned in his previous birth as Indradyumna and which he remembered by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.

Because of the gratitude King Indradyumna had in recieving Agastya Muni's curse he got the rememberance of his past devotional activity by the grace of Krishna.Please bless me Oh Lord that some sincerity develops in my heart towards wanting to be with You. I am caught on and attracted to the false shelters and think they will carry me through. Please help me understand that You are the only true object of all affection and service and You are the only protector and benefactor. Please help me surrender to You.

Please bless me so that I can diligently carry out devotional service unto You very mindfully and attentively so that when I am bewilidered by the turn of events, You will remind  me all the lessons I learned in bhakti.

Lord is the Supreme Benefactor and Supremely merciful:
In his prayers Gajendra offered wonderful prayers recognizing You as the Supreme Father(8.3.13), Supreme Director(8.3.14), supreme Cause(8.3.15),Supreme revealer of Knowledge(8.3.16) and supremely Merciful(8.3.17). He also said that he was covered by ignorance in an elephant's body and was attracted to material enjoyment.  Oh Krishna I am also covered by ignorance and I am attracted to material enjoyment.
Its amazing even before we offer our prayers You incessantly try to deliver us :
SB 8.3.17: .. Indeed, being extremely merciful, You incessantly try to deliver me. ... but I am unfortunate as I dont follow Your instructions and hear Your message because I am covered by the modes SB 8.3.16 : My Lord, as the fire in araṇi wood is covered, You and Your unlimited knowledge are covered by the material modes of nature. Your mind, however, is not attentive to the activities of the modes of nature. Those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge are not subject to the regulative principles directed in the Vedic literatures. Because such advanced souls are transcendental, You personally appear in their pure minds. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Please remove this covering so that I can hear Your instructions and desire to be with You.
Thus Gajendra very humbly accepted his condition : I am covered, I have material qualities but I am sure of your protection because you are always trying to protect us abut because we are covered we do not hear.
Only when one surrenders can one feel the Lord's protection.


Please protect me:

Gajendra says SB 8.3.20-21: Unalloyed devotees, who have no desire other than to serve the Lord, worship Him in full surrender and always hear and chant about His activities, which are most wonderful and auspicious. Thus they always merge in an ocean of transcendental bliss. Such devotees never ask the Lord for any benediction. I, however, am in danger. Thus I pray to that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally existing, who is invisible, who is the Lord of all great personalities, such as Brahmā, and who is available only by transcendental bhakti-yoga. Being extremely subtle, He is beyond the reach of my senses and transcendental to all external realization. He is unlimited, He is the original cause, and He is completely full in everything. I offer my obeisances unto Him.


Srila Prabhupada states in the purport:"Unalloyed devotees have nothing to ask from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Gajendra, the King of the elephants, was circumstantially asking for an immediate benediction because he had no other way to be rescued. Sometimes, when there is no alternative, a pure devotee, being fully dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Lord, prays for some benediction. But in such a prayer there is also regret. "

No Lamentation:
When in difficulty the devotees are not lamenting e.g Draupadi, Gajendra, Kunti devi rather the are beautifully glorifying the Lord and His energies and are offering themselves humbly for the Lord's shelter

When the Lord came to save him , Gajendra inspite of his pain was welcoming the Lord by saying :"O my Lord, Nārāyaṇa, master of the universe, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You." He wasnt comsumed in the thought of how his misery would go away but rather he was very happy to see the Lord. By offering the flower he is actually saying "I am yours" inspite of any condition I am in , I am yours.