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2-bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam is stopping the blazing fire of material existence. Lust for sense gratification
is the all-devouring enemy of the soul. It evolves by contact with the material mode of passion, and if frustrated,
it becomes destructive anger in the mode of ignorance. The pure consciousness of the living entity is covered
by his eternal enemy lust, which is never satisfied because it burns like fire. Lust cannot be satisfied by sense
enjoyment and similarly fire cannot subside by fueling it. The association of unholy persons who glibly engage
in sinful activities like meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and intoxication will corrupt the mind with the flames of
lust. Lord Buddha has said: “…all that is burning. The eye is burning, forms are burning, eye-consciousness is
burning, eye contact is burning, and whatever feeling arises with eye contact as condition — whether pleasant
or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant– that too is burning. Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust,
with the fire of hatred, with the fire of delusion; with sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, I say.”

Most important in spiritual life is learning to transfer attachment from material things to self-realized devotees
(sadhus).
prasaṅgam ajaraṁ pāśam / ātmanaḥ kavayo viduḥ
sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto / mokṣa-dvāram apāvṛtam
“Every learned man knows very well that attachment for the material is the greatest entanglement of the spirit
soul. But that same attachment, when applied to the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation.” (SB
3.25.20)

In the association of devotees one gradually accepts the principles of Krishna consciousness and thereby the
ignorance engendered by contact with the material world is dispelled. By purification of the heart and mind the
devotee is freed from the material conception of life. He reorients his thinking from bodily concerns for comfort
and sense gratification to the spiritual quest to free himself from the cycle of birth and death. As long as one’s
focus is on mundane considerations he is obliged to stay a prisoner in the material world. The real purpose of
human life is to cleanse the heart of all doubts and misgivings about spiritual life and engage wholeheartedly in
re-establishing one’s eternal relationship with Lord Krishna. This amazing transformation takes placed simply by
chanting Hare Krishna and continually associating with Krishna devotees. The great blessing that one
experiences is gradual freedom from material miseries. The Lord confirms:
idaṁ tu te guhya-tamaṁ / pravakṣyāmy anasūyave
jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitaṁ / yaj jñātvā mokṣyase ’śubhāt
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart
to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of
material existence.” (Bg 9.1)

By hearing the discourses of devotees about Krishna one becomes enlightened.

satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido /bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ
taj-joṣaṇād āśv apavarga-vartmani / śraddhā ratir bhaktir anukramiṣyati

“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually

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