On love - Bhagavatam

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For such persons, it’s always about ‘using and throwing away’ - be it things or persons. Everyone is present in the world to please them, to be used by them and then to be disposed off. Why, the way they drive a vehicle also shows this ‘careless’ character of theirs. There is no ‘sensitivity’ in them towards others, their feelings. The one word that describes them is ‘baggad’ (in hindi language), nearest word being rustic. The way they handle tells their attitude and their character. Look at celebrity chef Vikas Khanna or Sanjeev Kapoor. The way they cook, they eat says that they love food – they respect food. Where there is love there is respect. Where there is disrespect, it is lust. Look at people eating food, you’ll know that they ‘lust’ food. So this feeling

is not exclusively between ‘man and woman’. It’s the character that spills on everything you do. The one who thinks, things and people are to be used can only live by lust, experience lust whatever word he uses to describe his feeling. ‘Lust’ demands more and more. There is no end to it and yet there is no ‘enough’ and ‘satisfaction’ to this feeling. Lust prefers to snatch than take from other.

As kids you must have collected ‘match boxes cover’. However much you collect you want more. That is done for the love of collection, for the love of designs of those ‘covers’ of match boxes.

But as we grow, if we collect saris, cars, jewellery, lovers, then it is lust. Why is not love? Is it because it’s related with money? No. Because of the intention and reason for collecting them! Some people collect ‘vintage cars’. That is done for the ‘love’ of ‘vintage cars’. But, mostly those who own fleet of cards do so to show-off their wealth. Then it’s lust. The act doesn’t define if it is lust or love. It’s the ‘reason’ behind the act which shows if it is lust or love.”

“Guruji, this is bit confusing. How can ‘touch’ decide if it is love or lust? I mean both are touching the same vehicle. How can you say one’s touch is tainted with lust and the other heals with his touch of love? Where can we find the difference?” asked Vijaya. She seemed both confused and frustrated. Frustrated because of not being able to tell the difference! Everyone here was more or less in the same space. Not getting it right, we wanted to presume ‘our touch’ to be of love but feared it was actually ‘lust’. 

“I’ll give you an example. Please be with me and then you’ll understand what I am trying to say. You all must’ve seen a kid not more than 5 years in bus, train, queue anywhere who smiled at you. You, I am sure must’ve smiled back and may be even played for few minutes with it. Even if it was hot or too cold, you were tired or hungry or drained out, yet when you looked into eyes of that stranger kid, you must’ve smiled and that must’ve lightened your entire body. That feeling that you felt, that state that you experienced, that smile that stayed on your lips – that is the way you experience love. You feel totally relaxed and at peace. There was no question of owing that child, expecting that child to behave in a certain way or remember you. Whenever you feel the same way, know it as love and not lust – be it for a thing or a person”.

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