Burlingame, CA
Business owners regulate their employees’ access to the Internet because, when not monitored, employees tend to increase their wanton exploration of the Internet and thus fritter away their valuable working time.
Children (and some adults?) too, when not supervised, wander into deep Internet waters to taste unsavory (or at least, frivolous) content. In this way they waste time and become addicted to distraction, or worse.
For these reasons, in 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ratified a law requiring libraries in the United States to use Internet filters and other measures to protect K-12 children from harmful online content as a condition for federal funding.
What to speak of the Internet, bhakti scriptures say that the entire material universe is a web of distraction for those whose minds and senses are not regulated, or who do not have a higher taste for engaging them in Krishna’s service.
In Gita, Krishna says: “As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.”
Therefore, just as employers, parents and governments, oversee and control the Internet use of their wards ; similarly, bhakti teachers and scriptures, also regulate their students. What’s more, bhakti teachers and scriptures also prescribe positive, spiritual engagements like eating Krishna prasadam, listening to beautiful Krishna kirtana and associating with encouraging, saintly devotees.
Serious bhakti yogis who take such guidance to heart and who voluntarily regulate their senses very soon taste Krishna’s special mercy.
“But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.” Bhagavad-gita 2.64
Vaisesika Dasa
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