Harikeśa: Because desire is a function of consciousness, which is a symptom of the spirit soul, it's very powerful.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Harikeśa: Because it's spiritual actually.
Prabhupāda: Therefore it is said, anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11). Abhilāṣ means desire. Anya means "except service of Kṛṣṇa." That is beginning of bhakti. As soon as he desires something material for enjoyment he has to continue. Manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati (BG 15.7). The mind and the senses; with these things he is struggling for existence. Otherwise he is part and parcel of Kṛṣ. . . mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhutaḥ jīva-loka sanātana (BG 15.7). He is eternal, but because he is influenced by the mind, desires and the senses, sense enjoyment, he is struggling. This is it, a struggle. So when he is too much fatigued, Kṛṣṇa comes and gives you good counsel: "You rascal, give up these all desires. Surrender to Me, I give you protection." But he'll not do that. And if he agrees, then anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam, all material desires, zero. Then bhakti begins. And if you have got a little pinch of material desires, then you have to accept different types of body. It will create, naturally. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya (BG 13.22). He is desiring under the influence of particular modes of nature, and he's getting body.
Harikeśa: One has to be very careful.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Otherwise even a devotee like Bharata Mahārāja, he had to accept the body of a deer. A little careless, then nature's law will act. Hmm? If you do not become cautious and if you infect the smallpox disease, you have to suffer. Therefore a civilized man takes process, caution, "Oh there is smallpox disease. I shall not go there. Or if I go there, I must take vaccine." This is human civilization, caution. And if you are animal, you do not know. So human life means not animal life. Very reasonable, very cautious, educated, cultured, that is human life. Not animal life. Drink like animal, or eat like animal, have sex life like animal—freedom. Animal has got all freedom. So that freedom is not allowed to the human being. That is civilization. The same example: The animal has got freedom, and you'll see in Indian market, vegetable market, some cow comes and eats, takes so many vegetable and eats, but he's not going to the court. But if you take one small piece of chili without. . . then you'll go to the court. So therefore law is meant for human beings, not for the animals. Those who want to be free, they are animals. So-called freedom means animalism. That is not humanism. Humanism means to follow the rules and regulation and the laws, and then he is human being. Because law is meant for the human being, not for the animals. And when you come out of your home, immediately the law is "Keep to the right." And if you violate, immediately you go to the law. But a dog, he doesn't care. If you say, "A dog does not obey this law," that is no excuse. You are human being. If you don't obey, then you go to jail. So many animals are on the street naked, they're having sex life, naked. You do, immediately you'll be prosecuted. Why? Because you are a human being. You have to restrain, even if you like. Just like the Hawaii university students, "What is the wrong to become a dog?" So if you think like that, then you become a dog. Nature is ready to give you a dog's body. That is vāsanā.