Misusing The Six Propensities Of The Heart

Misusing The Six Propensities Of The Heart
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
“By misusing the six propensities of the heart such as lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride and envy one commits sin. One who has taken complete shelter of the holy names does not commit any sin. He engages his lust for discussing the topics of Krishna and maintaining Vaiṣṇava family based on the service to Krishna. He never engages in sinful activities like enjoying others wife, accumulating more money than required, desiring name and fame, cheating and stealing. He engages his anger against those who are envious of Krishna and the Vaiṣṇavas. In this way, he remains aloof from the association of the materialists. He avoids subduing and torturing others. Then his anger transforms into tolerance like a tree. He engages his greed for relishing the mellows of ecstatic love for Krishna, and thereby he does not even bother to eat palat¬able foodstuffs, wear opulent clothes, enjoy beau¬tiful women and accumulate unlimited wealth. He engages his illusion in the transcendental mellows and thus becomes bewildered by the beauty of Krishna’s pastimes and Vaiṣṇavas characteristics. Wealth, followers and material happiness do not enamor him. Being bewildered by improper con¬clusion, he does not get involved in impersonalism, or atheism and false argument. By engaging his pride in the service of Krishna, he gives up pride for high birth, wealth, beauty, education, followers and bodily strength. He totally gives up self-es¬teemed of being envious and violent to others. By regulating one’s life in this way one can,not have any opportunity for committing any sin. Rather his propensities for sinful activities become totally uprooted. But sometimes there may be some sinful activity committed accidentally which is nullified without atonement.”
– Sajjana Toṣaṇī 8/9, An excerpt from the Bhaktivinoda Vānī Vaibhāva Pub¬lished by Isvara dasa