Ruined by Sex Attraction
Unfortunately, as related in these verses, Ajamila lost his brahminical status. Once, as a young man, Ajamila went to collect flowers and other articles for Deity worship. His father ordered him, Bring all these things from the forest. While coming back, Ajamila came upon a fourth-class man and a prostitute, who are vividly described here. Drunkenness was sometimes manifest even in bygone ages, although not very frequently. In the present Age of Kali, however, such sin is to be seen everywhere, for people all over the world have become shameless. Long ago, when Ajamila saw the scene of the drunken sudra and the prostitute, he was affected, although up until then he had been a perfect brahmacari. Nowadays promiscuity is visible in so many places, and we must consider the position of a brahmacari student who sees such behavior. For such a brahmacari to remain steady is very difficult unless he is extremely strong in following the regulative principles. Nevertheless, one who takes to Krsna consciousness very seriously can withstand the provocation of sin.
In our Krsna consciousness movement we prohibit illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. In Kali-yuga, a drunken, half-naked woman embracing a drunken man is a very common sight, especially in the Western countries, and restraining oneself after seeing such things is very difficult. Nevertheless, if by the grace of Krsna a man adheres to the regulative principles and chants the Hare Krsna mantra, Krsna will certainly protect him. Indeed, Krsna says that His devotee is never vanquished (kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati). Therefore all the disciples practicing Krsna consciousness should obediently follow the regulative principles and remain fixed in chanting the holy name of the Lord. Then there need be no fear. Otherwise ones position is very dangerous.
Ajamila had vowed to follow the regulative principles of spiritual life. But as we see, even when one is highly qualified there is the chance of a fall. Seeing the low-class couple engaged in public sex proved to be his downfall. Everyone knows that a husband and wife have sexual intercourse, but this should be done privately. Sex in public is animalistic. Similarly, sex with many partners is illicit. Nowadays illicit sex is common throughout the world, especially in the Western countries. A young girl thinks, I will find a suitable man, attract him, and have sex, but I wont marry him right away. I will test this man, then that man. When I have found the one who makes me happy, then I will marry. This is the mentality of a prostitute. And similarly, the young boys are hunting for many sex partners. These are commonplace activities in Western countries, where the boys and girls receive no spiritual training.
In such a cat-and-dog society, there can be no peace. All the leaders talk about peace, and they meet in peace conferences, but there can be no peace from conferring and passing resolutions. There cannot be peace unless the whole social structure is reformed, and that can be done only by Krsna consciousness.
Krsna consciousness is cultivated by good association, just as a degraded mentality is a result of bad association. As Lord Rsabhadeva says in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5. 2), mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam: If we want to open the door to liberation, we should engage ourselves in the service of the mahatmas, the pure devotees, but if we want to open the door to hellish life, then we can associate with those who are very attached to women. The lusty people of todays so-called civilized society do not care for Krsna consciousness. They do not care for their elderly family members. They indulge in sex in the street, on the beach, in the cinema. Sex is advertised constantly to attract the attention of the people. In this way materialistic atheists add fuel to the fire of lust, and people are going to hell.
So, Ajamila became degraded by seeing a low-class couple embracing. Because both the sudra and the prostitute were drunk, their eyes were rolling, and the prostitutes clothes were loose. Nowadays it has become fashionable to wear revealing clothing, but this practice is abominable. It simply makes the body more attractive for sex indulgence. It is said that if ones body is smeared with turmeric, it increases the lusty desires of the opposite sex. The word kama-liptena indicates that the sudra was decorated with turmeric smeared on his body. Because the sudra and the prostitute were rascals, they were not ashamed. They exhibited themselves freely, not caring for public criticism. They were laughing, smiling, singing, and embracing, and the young Ajamila saw everything when he passed by on the road.
In modern times sexual affairs of this kind are regularly shown in the cinema, and thus it is not hard to guess what kind of character is forming in the young men and women of today. By seeing these activities only once, Ajamila fell down. In this way Ajamilas spiritual education and training were finished. He was stunned and bewildered. When Cupid attacks, all ones education, culture, and knowledge are lost. Therefore one has to avoid this free-mixing, lusty society. Canakya Pandita advises, Always avoid associating with persons too attached to sense gratification. Rather, associate with those who are engaged in the devotional activities of spiritual life. For this reason boys are sent to the gurukula, the house of the bona fide spiritual master, who trains them in spiritual life from the age of five.
Unless one is very strong in knowledge, patience, and proper bodily, mental, and intellectual behavior, controlling ones lusty desires is extremely difficult. Thus after seeing a man embracing a young woman and practically doing everything required for sex, even a fully qualified brahmana, as described above, could not control his lusty desires and restrain himself from pursuing them. Because of the force of materialistic life, to maintain self-control is extremely difficult unless one is specifically under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service.

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