The threat in here is much bigger than the threat out there by Chaitanya Charan Das Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03.

In a war, the threat from the enemies out there is big, but much bigger is the threat from the enemies in here – the traitors in our own camp.

Similarly, in the war against illusion, the threat from a tempting environment is big, but much bigger is the threat from inner weaknesses such as lust that make temptations seem irresistible. The Bhagavad-gita (03.40) cautions that lust has lodged itself inside us in the senses, the mind and the intelligence.

Lust pretends to be our friend and promises us that indulging in temptation will give us immense pleasure. But when we succumb to its delusion, it does a shameless volte-face and delivers misery instead  – the misery of frustrated expectations because the pleasure turns out to be pathetically meager; the misery of aggravated craving because the indulgence fuels the craving; the misery ofplummeting self-esteem because we break our resolutions and violate our sacred principles in our lust-blinded pursuit of pleasure; the misery of strained or ruptured relationships because our misdeeds hurt, anger or devastate our loved ones; and the misery of a myriad other karmic consequences.

To protect ourselves from lust’s delusions, we need to regularly study scripture. When we see through the eyes of scripture, we see that lust has betrayed us with itsfalse promisesinnumerable times in this life as well as many previous lives.

Most importantly, scripture helps us connect with the supreme source of happiness: Krishna. Devotional connection with Krishna gives us a sublime fulfillment that makes resisting lust’s seductions easier. Further, the combination of scriptural education and personal realizationconvinces us that in our quest for happiness we can do much better than settle for lust’s meager and miserable pleasures. Being thus empowered, we gradually drive lust forever out of its inner enclave.