04. 6 Enemies of the Soul

My dear King Rahügaëa, as long as the conditioned soul accepts the material body and is not freed from the contamination of material enjoyment, and as long as he does not conquer his six enemies (the five knowledge-acquiring senses and the mind) and come to the platform of self-realization by awakening his spiritual knowledge, he has to wander among different places and different species of life in this material world.(SB 5.11.15)

In former times there were many fools like you who did not conquer the six enemies that steal away the wealth of the body. These fools were very proud, thinking, “I have conquered all enemies in all the ten directions.” But if a person is victorious over the six enemies and is equipoised toward all living entities, for him there are no enemies. Enemies are merely imagined by one in ignorance.

PURPORT

In this material world, everyone thinks that he has conquered his enemies, not understanding that his enemies are his uncontrolled mind and five senses (manaù ñañöhänéndriyäëi prakåti-sthäni karñati [Bg. 15.7]). In this material world, everyone has become a servant of the senses. Originally everyone is a servant of Kåñëa, but in ignorance one forgets this, and thus one is engaged in the service of mäyä through lusty desires, anger, greed, illusion, madness and jealousy. Everyone is actually dependent on the reactions of material laws, but still one thinks himself independent and thinks that he has conquered all directions. In conclusion, one who thinks that he has many enemies is an ignorant man, whereas one who is in Kåñëa consciousness knows that there are no enemies but those within oneself—the uncontrolled mind and senses. (SB 7.8.10)

Even though a woman be made of wood or stone, she becomes attractive when decorated. One becomes sexually agitated even by touching the form. Therefore one should not trust his mind, which is so fickle that it can give way to enemies at any moment. The mind is always accompanied by six enemies-namely, käma, krodha, mada, moha, mätsarya and bhaya—that is, lust, anger, intoxication, illusion, envy and fear. Although the mind may be merged in spiritual consciousness, one should always be very careful in dealing with it, just as one is careful in dealing with a snake. One should never think that his mind is trained and that he can do whatever he likes. One interested in spiritual life should always engage his mind in the service of the Lord so that the enemies of the mind, who always accompany the mind, will be subdued. If the mind is not engaged in Kåñëa consciousness at every moment, there is a chance that it will give way to its enemies. In this way we become victims of the mind.

Chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra engages the mind at the lotus feet of Kåñëa constantly; thus the mind’s enemies do not have a chance to strike. Following Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s example in these verses, we should be very careful in dealing with the mind, which should not be indulged in any circumstance. Once we indulge the mind, it can create havoc in this life, even though we may be spiritually advanced. The mind is specifically agitated through the association of materialistic men and women. Therefore Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, through His personal behavior, warns everyone to avoid meeting a materialistic person or a woman. (CC. Madhya 11.10)

The paramahaàsa(pure devotee of the Lord) is therefore called vijita-ñaò-guëa. He must conquer the six material qualities-käma, krodha, lobha, moha, matsarya and kñudhä-tåñëä (lust, anger, greed, illusion, enviousness and hunger and thirst). (CC. Madhya 4.124)