Premanand Maharaj
Every seeker following the spiritual path at some point or the other struggles with disorders like lust, anger, greed and attachment that arise within the mind. Such questions often come up in the court of Guru Premanand Maharaj also. These days, an old video of his is viral on social media, in which a devotee shares the confusion of his mind and asks – while worshiping God, tears come from the eyes, the mind becomes giddy, all the bad habits are gone, but the lust is not going away from the body. What to do in such situation? The depth and simplicity with which Premanand Maharaj answered this question has become a guidance not only for that devotee but also for millions of seekers.
Lust is not a small personality, it is an enemy ‘endowed with the power of God’!
Premanand Maharaj answered this deep question of the devotee in a very logical and intuitive manner. Instead of considering lust as a simple disorder, he defined it as a huge spiritual challenge.
‘A very big enemy’: Premanand Maharaj said that lust is not a small personality, rather it is a big enemy. It reaches great heights and lasts for many years.
Attendance till ‘Bhagwat Interview’: Premanand Maharaj says that this continues until God is realized. Even after 20 or 50 years of hard sadhana (penance), it does not get destroyed, but remains in a subtle form like a wave.
God form: Explaining sexual desire in more depth, he said that it is endowed with divine power and is not ordinary. He mentioned the example of Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna, who is known as the incarnation of Kama, indicating that this is a Godly form.
Don’t be afraid, it will ‘support’ you
Premanand Maharaj advised the devotee to look at it from a different perspective instead of being afraid of this subject. He said, you just have to be careful about work, it will not go away with a year or two of devotion. It will remain with you and will remain so until you meet God. So don’t be afraid. It will not corrupt you, but will support you. It will frighten you and take you to the refuge of God.
Premanand Maharaj gave two important and practical suggestions to the devotee to overcome this enemy and remain firm on the spiritual path.
Special attention to accompaniment:
He said that keep distance from such people whose feelings have deteriorated or are likely to deteriorate, whether they are men or women.
Premanand Maharaj explained that whenever someone aims to attain God, Maya creates a system to corrupt them through these vices. He described him as one person in a million who could firmly say that he would ‘do no wrong’. Therefore, care has to be taken to ensure that no coincidence or action is formed.
Giving the last and most important suggestion, he said: “You listen to satsang and chant the name of God. These two things will not let you fall and will prove helpful in moving forward on the right path.”