24 THE PATH OF PERFECTION

maya, and this brings about his conditioning or false indentifica-
tion. This is very elaborately explained in the Seventh Chapter,
First Canto, of Srimad-Bhdgavatam.

In conclusion, our actual position is that of spiritual sparks, full
of light. Now we are temporarily covered by this illusory energy,
maya, which is dictating to us. Acting under the influence of maya,
we are becoming more and more entangled in the material energy.
The yoga system is meant to disentangle us, and the perfection of
yoga is Krsna consciousness. Thus Krsna consciousness is the
most effective means by which we can disentangle ourselves from
the influence of the material energy.

CHAPTER THREE

Learning How to See God

bandhur atmatmanas tasya
yenatmaivatmana jitah

anatmanas tu Satrutve
vartetatmaiva Satruvat

“For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of
friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be
the greatest enemy.”’ (Bg. 6.6)

The purpose of the yoga system is to make the mind into a
(friend instead of an enemy. In material contact, the mind is in a
kind of drunken condition. As stated in Caitanya-caritamrta
(Madhya-lila 20.117),

krsna bhuli’ sei jiva— anadi-bahirmukha
ataeva mayd tare deya samsara-duhkha

“Forgetting Krsna, the living entity has been attracted by the
Lord’s external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the il-
lusory energy (mdyd) gives him all kinds of misery in his material
existence.’ The living entity is constitutionally spirit soul, part
and parcel of the Supreme Lord. As soon as the mind is contami-
nated, the living entity, because he has a little independence,
rebels. In this state, the mind dictates, ‘‘Why should I serve
Krena? I am God.”’ Thus one labors under a false impression, and
his life is spoiled. We try to conquer many things—even em-
plres—but if we fail to conquer the mind, we are failures even if
we manage to conquer an empire. Even though emperors, we will
have within us our greatest enemy—our own mind.

25.

