Now a days whenever we open the page of newspaper or a news channel we see that most of the news are either related to crime against woman or related to terrorism. In recent times we are indeed observing a huge increase in abuse , molestation, sexual harassment of woman in all section of community. Various people giving various opinion regarding the cause of such increase of this kind of crime. Some section of people thinking that a stringent punishment against the criminal would solve the issue, some section blaming the rapidly genocide of Indian ancient vedic culture and adopting a hedonistic western culture, some blaming it on the victim itself. TV channels bringing so called intellectuals to discuss on this matter and profiting out of their programs. We are seeing so many silent, violent mass protest in front of Indian Gate or Parliament BUT the problem is not solving instead we seeing the same news happening with another fellow in the next day newspaper.
So we must seriously question are we hitting the root cause of problem or are we giving a superficial solution to such significant issue? . Making stringent Law, police protection all this stuff can punish the criminal and give some condolence to the victim but it will not remove the crime from the heart of millions of criminal and definitely not ensure protection to all woman. To stop crime we have to ask why people does such crime ? The same was asked by Arjuna to Lord Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra:
arjuna uvāca
atha kena prayukto 'yaḿ pāpaḿ carati pūruṣaḥ
anicchann api vārṣṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ ~ Bhagavad Gita 3.36
Translation
Arjuna said: O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?
Krishna replied as follows:
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam ~ Bhagavad Gita 3.37
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.
So Lord Krishna said it is lust which leads man to do henious act. So crime is the outcome of lust. Lust is the disease and crime is the symptom. Our so called propoganda of making stringent punishment (ofcourse it is necessary) or any other means is not the solution to cure this problem. Just like fever is the symptom of an underlying health problem . Giving some medicince to lower the fever may give some temporary relief to the patient but if we not treat the disease due which the patient is getting fever the fever will again come on surface . Similalrly mere physical outlook by making some law or restricting woman will not stop crime against woman. We have to transform the heart of people by curing them from the disease of lust.
Now the questions comes how people become lusty. Lord Krishna answers this in the same verse Gita 3.37: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion. So lust is born from mode of passion [Bhagavd Gita 14.5: Material nature consists of three modes — goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes. ] . When people get infected by passion they become lusty because the characteristic of passion are tṛṣṇā — hankering for sense objects in which sexual object is prime ; sańga — association with sense object [Bhagavad Gita 14.7: The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kuntī,and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive actions.]. Just like in a bucket of crystal clear water if we mix some red color the water becomes red similalrly when a living entity’s mind come in contact with modes of passion or rajas the living entity hanker for sense objects.Now the question comes why we hanker for sense objects. Vedanta sutra 1.1.12 says: Ananda-mayo 'bhyAsAt means living entities are by nature pleasure seeking. Therefore we hanker for sense object to derive some pleasure out of it and sex is highest pleasure material world offer us and specially in the so called modern age where from internet to bill boards to bollywood all alluring common people by exhibition of sexually provocative human behaviour.
So now we came to the root cause that lust leads to crime and the root of lust is pleasure seeking mentality out of exploiting sense objects. Now we may say we need to stop pleasure seeking then there will be no lust and no crime but pleasure seeking is the inherent nature of soul how can we stop it? Krishna removes this confusion in Gita verse 2.59
viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaḿ raso 'py asya paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate
Translation
The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.
So pleasure seeking is the right of the soul but he needs higher taste then only he can cease from the lower pleasure of lust specially sex pleasure. And from where we get that higher pleasure Krishna describes in Gita verse 2.61
BG 2.61: One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.
The highest pleasure is to become Krishna Conscious. We are eternal part of Krishna and we can derive pleasure only by association with Krishna but as we have came here in this world to enjoy matter we became bound and expressing our pleasure seeking mentality by fullfulling lust in the form of sexual exploition as Krishna says in Gita verse 15.7
mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah-sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.
So by becoming Krishna conscious we can become free from lust. And how to become Krishna conscious ? Krishna answers this in Gita verse 10.9
mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māḿ nityaḿ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca
Translation
The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
So if we engage ourselves in Krishna Katha, chanting his Glories , His holy name, reading and discussing his pastimes [sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam.~ Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:4:25-26] then all the anarthas (lust,greed,anger,pride,illusion,envy) of our heart will washed away. This is the way of removing lust from people’s heart and actual solution of crime specially sex related crime , mere superficial propoganda not going to help.
Comments
Hare Krishna Sudipta Roy Prabhu ,
Such a nice article !!
Hari Bol ..
i dont even knw i m rite or wrng...i postd wat ifelt
bhagwan ki madad mangne se pehle...logo ko dusro ki madad karna sikhna hoga...hamesha depend karna acha nai hota..jab tak people khud help nai karte kuch ho nai sakta...ye baaat bhi sach hai ki bhagwan k bina koi kaam nai hosakta par ppl should change and for that krishna consiousnes wont help much...bcz most of the ppl dontundrstnd thetrue meaning ..even they folow krishna most of them hate muslims..
kal ek aur rape hua tha ek ladki ka...she was left nude on road wth her frnd(boy)...that guy was totaly beatn up..and they also took of his clothes..when he askedfr help every one was just making fun of them nothing else..i knw i cant change india..but i do want to..