life, meaning of / purpose of
|
Imported quote 13662 Everyone in human society is engaged for the ultimate benefit of life, but persons who are in the bodily conception cannot achieve the ultimate goal, nor can they understand what it is. The ultimate goal of life is described in Bhagavad-gita. Param drstva nivartate (Bg. 2.59). When one finds out the supreme goal of life, he naturally becomes detached from the bodily concept. Here in this verse the indication is that one has to steadfastly increase attachment for the Transcendence (brahmani). As it is confirmed in the Vedanta-sūtra, athato brahma-jijnasa (Vs. 1.1.1): without inquiry about the Supreme or the Transcendence, one cannot give up attachment for this material world. By the evolutionary process in 8,400,000 species of life, one cannot understand the ultimate goal of life because in all those species of life, the bodily conception is very prominent. Athato brahma jijnasa means that in order to get out of the bodily conception, one has to increase attachment or inquiry about Brahman. Then he can be situated in the transcendental devotional service-sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ. To increase attachment for Brahman means to engage in devotional service. Those who are attached to the impersonal form of Brahman cannot remain attached for very long. Impersonalists, after rejecting this world as mithya or false (jagan-mithya), come down again to this jagan-mithya, although they take sannyasa to increase their attachment for Brahman. Similarly, many yogis who are attached to the localized aspect of Brahman as Paramatma-great sages like Visvamitra-also fall down as victims of women. Therefore increased attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is advised in all sastras. That is the only way of detachment from material existence and is explained in Bhagavad-gita as param drstva nivartate (Bg. 2.59). One can cease material activities when he actually has the taste for devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommended love of Godhead as the ultimate goal of life (prema pumartho mahan). Without increasing love of Godhead, one cannot achieve the perfectional stage or the transcendental position.
(More...) Imported quote 16048 Real civilization is not concerned simply with man's animal needs but with enabling man to understand his relationship with God, the supreme father. One may learn about his relationship with God by any process-through Christianity, through the Vedic literatures or through the Koran-but in any case it must be learned. The purpose of this Krsna consciousness movement is not to make Christians into Hindus or Hindus into Christians but to inform everyone that the duty of a human being is to understand his relationship with God. One must learn this, otherwise he is simply wasting his time by engaging in animalistic propensities. We must all try to love Krsna or God. If one has a process, he should practice it, or he can come and learn this process. One should not begrudge the selection of one process over another. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam/ nicad apy uttamam vidyam stri-ratnam duskulad api (Niti-darpana 1.16). Canakya Panḍita says that one must catch what is right from any source. If there is a glass of poison with some nectar in it, he says, one should take out the nectar and leave the poison. In the same way, if one finds gold in a filthy place, he should take it. Similarly, although according to the Vedic system of education one must be given instruction by intellectual persons like brahmanas, if someone lower on the social scale has learned the truth, one should accept him as a teacher and learn from him. One should not think that just because one is lowly born he should not be accepted as a teacher.
(More...) Imported quote 16240 Srila Prabhupada attended Scottish Churches College in Calcutta, which was taught by British professors. Once one such professor attempted to discredit the philosophy of karma, from the Christian viewpoint, by saying, "How could a person be awarded the results of all his activities in the form of karma? Many of our actions are not remembered or even witnessed by anyone. If in court there are no witnesses, no judgement can be given." Srila Prabhupada says that at the time he did not make an argumentative reply, but he shows us that the challenge from his boyhood professor is certainly defeated when one understands the position of the Supersoul, the expansion of the Supreme Lord who is within everyone's heart and who witnesses all by His all-pervading knowledge and who awards everyone his next life through the agency of material nature or karma. It is the Lord in the heart who witnesses all our actions, and He is completely competent to award us our next life based on what He has witnessed. Even hearing from his European professor, there was no question of Srila Prabhupada being affected by materialistic ideas. To one who imbibes Vedic culture in an atmosphere of love, and who grasps the transcendental science with his intelligence, there is never doubt or a falldown from the truth. Although in this period of growing up Srila Prabhupada entered marriage and business and even made political affiliation-he relates that he never at any time in his life smoked cigarettes or even drank coffee or tea. Of course, more and more so-called Hindus do these illicit practices, but Srila Prabhupada was never such a "Hindu" but always a pure Vaisnava, one who follows the essence of the original culture of India-love of Krsna. According to Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that original culture (Veda) is not intended only for Indians, but is to be spread all over the world, especially by those persons fortunate enough to be born in the land of Bharata-varsa (India).
(More...) Imported quote 16251 Krsna has advised that this material happiness and distress, they are on account of this body. They come and go. They do not stay. So long we are in this material world, this happiness and distress will come and go. Just like seasonal changes: it does not stay. It comes and again goes away. So we should not be disturbed. [aside:] If you want to stand, you can stand. It comes and goes. We should not be disturbed. Our real business is to realize ourself, self-realization. That must go on. It must not stop. That is human life. Suffering and... So-called suffering, distress, that will go on so long we have got this body. But we must come to the knowledge that "I am..., I have got this body due to my past activities." That is knowledge. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. So a sensible man should consider: "Is it not possible to stop this material body? Because I am spirit soul, it is simply covering." Here, that is human life: how to stop this contamination of this material body. So, so long we shall work irresponsibly,
(More...) If we hear Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita regularly, then we become free from the effects of the modes of ignorance and passion, gradually, although it takes... But it is sure. The more you hear about Krsna, or-Krsna means His instruction or about Him, what He is-the more you become purified. So that is the test, that how one has become purified means one is purified from the base quality of passion and ignorance, means that he is no more attacked by greediness and passion. That is the test. That means he is free from the base qualities, and he is situated, ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati. When he is no more disturbed by these base qualities of passion and greediness, then he is happy. Then he becomes happy. Ceta etair anavi..., sthitasya, that is goodness. That is goodness. Then he is happy, happiness, that the ultimate stage of goodness is brahma-bhūtaḥ, to realize himself, realize God. So goodness, one must come to the platform of goodness. So we are therefore asking people to give up these base qualitative activities-illicit sex and meat-eating and drinking or intoxication and gambling. These are base qualities. So anyone gives up these qualities, he remains in the sattva-guna. And then if he is promoted farther, just like Socrates says that goodness is not only..., still you have to..., and that is bhakti. Then his life becomes perfect. He becomes liberated, and then gradually he develops love of God, then he is in the original state. Bhakti hitvanyatha. As mukti, liberation, means that to be free from this all nonsense engagements-hitvanyatha. They are engaged, all these karmis, jnanis, yogis, they are simply engaged in some false engagements to become happy. So when one is free from these false engagements, then he is in the liberated state. Mukti means-muktir hitvanyatha rūpam [SB 2.10.6]. Anyatha rūpam means-he is acting otherwise.
(More...) Imported quote 16268 Therefore, Krsna says that janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ [Bg 4.9]. The advent of Krsna, it is very important thing. We should try to understand Krsna, why He advents, why He comes on this material world, what is His business, what are His activities. If we simply try to understand Krsna, then what is the result? The result is tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9]. You get that immortality. The aim of life is to achieve immortality. Amrtatvaya kalpate.
(More...) Imported quote 16552 The social institution known as varnasrama-dharma-the institution dividing society into four divisions or castes-is not meant to divide human society according to birth. Such divisions are in terms of educational qualifications. They are to keep the society in a state of peace and prosperity. The qualities mentioned herein are explained as transcendental qualities meant for making a person progress in spiritual understanding so he can get liberated from the material world. In the varnasrama institution the sannyasi, or the person in the renounced order of life, is considered to be the head or the spiritual master of all the social statuses and orders. A brahmana is considered to be the spiritual master of the three other sections of a society, namely, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas and the sūdras, but a sannyasi, who is on the top of the institution, is considered to be the spiritual master of the brahmanas also. For a sannyasi, the first qualification should be fearlessness. Because a sannyasi has to be alone without any support or guarantee of support, he has simply to depend on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he thinks, "After leaving my connections, who will protect me?" he should not accept the renounced order of life. One must be fully convinced that Krsna or the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His localized aspect as Paramatma is always within, that He is seeing everything and He always knows what one intends to do. One must thus have firm conviction that Krsna as Paramatma will take care of a soul surrendered to Him. "I shall never be alone," one should think. "Even if I live in the darkest regions of a forest I shall be accompanied by Krsna, and He will give me all protection." That conviction is called abhayam, without fear. This state of mind is necessary for a person in the renounced order of life. Then he has to purify his existence. There are so many rules and regulations to be followed in the renounced order of life. Most important of all, a sannyasi is strictly forbidden to have any intimate relationship with a woman. He is even forbidden to talk with a woman in a secluded place. Lord Caitanya was an ideal sannyasi, and when He was at Puri His feminine devotees could not even come near to offer their respects. They were advised to bow down from a distant place. This is not a sign of hatred for women as a class, but it is a stricture imposed on the sannyasi not to have close connections with women. One has to follow the rules and regulations of a particular status of life in order to purify his existence. For a sannyasi, intimate relations with women and possessions of wealth for sense gratification are strictly forbidden. The ideal sannyasi was Lord Caitanya Himself, and we can learn from His life that He was very strict in regards to women. Although He is considered to be the most liberal incarnation of Godhead, accepting the most fallen conditioned souls, He strictly followed the rules and regulations of the sannyasa order of the life in connection with association with woman. One of His personal associates, namely Chota Haridasa, was personally associated with Lord Caitanya, along with His other confidential personal associates, but somehow or other this Chota Haridasa looked lustily on a young woman, and Lord Caitanya was so strict that He at once rejected him from the society of His personal associates. Lord Caitanya said, "For a sannyasi or anyone who is aspiring to get out of the clutches of material nature and trying to elevate himself to the spiritual nature and go back to home, back to Godhead, for him, looking toward material possessions and women for sense gratification-not even enjoying them, but just looking toward them with such a propensity-is so condemned that he had better commit suicide before experiencing such illicit desires." So these are the processes for purification.
(More...) There are other verses in the Bhagavad-gita. [break] ...of cousin-brothers, the Panḍavas and the Kauravas. They met there for fighting. That's a historical fact, Mahabharata, Greater India. Mahabharata means Greater..., History of Greater India. So everything is there. But we do not take advantage of this great book of knowledge. So we request that everyone should cultivate..., should try to know what he is, what is Krsna, what is their relationship with Krsna and what is their real life, what is the goal of life. Unless we do cultivate all this knowledge, then it is simply we are wasting our time, this valuable life of human form.
(More...) Imported quote 16741 So heaven is described in the Vedic literature as tri-dasa-pūar. Tri-dasa-pūra. Tri-dasa-pūra means there are 33,000,000's of demigods, and they have got their separate planets. This is called tri-dasa-pūra. Tri means three, and dasa means ten. So thirty-three or thirty. Anyway, tri-dasa-pūra akasa-puspayate. Akasa-puspa means something imaginary. Something imaginary-a flower in the sky. A flower should be in the garden, but if somebody imagines the flower in the sky, it is something imaginary. So for a devotee, this heavenly promotion to the heavenly planet is just like a flower in the sky. Tri-dasa-pūra akasa-puspayate, kaivalyam narakayate. Jnani and karmi.
(More...) Imported quote 17483 So that attitude should be maintained, because here it is said, tvam akincana-gocaram [SB 1.8.26]. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu also, He said that niskincanasya. Here it is called akincana. And the same thing in different way, niskincana. Akincana. "A" means negation, and "na" means negation. Niskincana. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajana, to advance in spiritual life, to be engaged in Krsna's devotional service, that is the aim of life. That is the purpose of human form of life. So for him, he should always remain niskincana. Niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya [Cc Madhya 11.8]. So therefore Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, he remained niskincana. And his disciple, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, he also remained niskincana although he possessed so many temples, because nothing was for his personal..., but for Krsna.
(More...) Imported quote 17629 The aim is to satisfy Visnu. We should always remember this fact, that we are eternally servant, part and parcel of Krsna, or Visnu. As I have given many times the example, there are so many parts of the body, but what are they meant for? To satisfy the belly. You are walking, you are catching, you are thinking, you are doing so many things-what is the aim? The aim is satisfy the stomach. You cook, you earn hard money, and then you purchase goods and cook nicely and put it into the stomach. Is it not?
(More...) Therefore bhave 'smin klisyanti. Klisyamananam. Simply wasting time, without knowing what is the aim of... The aim of life is you have to satisfy Krsna. We have repeatedly that... Therefore Krsna says nothing, that "The most confidential knowledge, Arjuna, I am giving you. I have spoken to you Bhagavad-gita in so many detail, but because you are My intimate, dear friend, I give you the most confidential knowledge." Guhyatamam. This word is used. What is that? "Surrender," that's all. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam... [Bg 18.66]. "This is the most confidential... Simply surrender and do what I say." That is the fact. If we act as Krsna says, then we shall be very, very happy. There is no doubt about it. And if we do not act, then we shall suffer. This is fact. There is no question about it. Just like... Just like I have several times told you that Krsna says, parjanyad anna-sambhavaḥ. No-annad bhavanti bhūtani [Bg 3.14].
(More...) Imported quote 17740 This is wanted. Simply try to understand what Krsna desires and try to satisfy Him. This is perfection of life.
(More...) Imported quote 18062 This life is meant for simply how to understand the Absolute Truth. Jivasya tattva-jijnasa. Jivasya... But that is missing now. Nobody is inquiring, neither there is any institution throughout the whole world where there is tattva-jijnasa, what is the Absolute Truth. Simply technical knowledge-how to become this, how to become that, to fill up this belly. But we cannot see even that the birds, beasts, they do not become technologists. How they are getting food? There are 8,400,000 forms of body. The human form of body are 400,000. Out of many bodies that live in jungle, they have also no technology, no education, no systematic government-nothing-but they are also eating. The birds and beasts are eating. Everyone is eating. The ants within your home, within the hole of your room, they're also eating. So who is not eating? Everyone is eating. Why you have made a civilization to work hard like an ass for your eating? What is this civilization? If everyone is, without working, they're getting their food, then what is your advancement of civilization that you have to work like an ass to get your food? That is not advancement of civilization. Therefore, because we are becoming animal, less than animal, therefore they are decreasing the personal God. This is the idea.
(More...) Imported quote 18096 But you should not waste your time like the cats and dogs and crows by inquiring, "Where is food? Where is food? Where is food?" Food is there for you, fixed up. Don't bother. The Bhagavata says there..., tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhaḥ So this life is meant for brahma-jijnasa. This life, this human life, is meant for brahma-jijnasa. Other jijnasa, inquiries, that is in the cats and dogs and hogs and crows and everywhere. So don't be bothering. "If I don't bother, then how shall I eat?" No, that people generally says, that "Everyone becomes Krsna conscious, how we shall eat? How things will go on?" Now, we are Krsna conscious, practical example. Are we not eating? Are we not sleeping? What business is stopped? We have no business; we simply beg. There is no certainty that "Tomorrow I shall go there, I'll get this money." There is no certainty. We do not know. We are eating in the morning. We do not know whether there will be food in the evening. If Krsna gives, then we can eat. You know it very well. We have no business. We are not professional men. We are not going to the market for what is bhav. Kya bhav hai. So are you not eating? We are eating. Not only eating, we have got hundred and two branches, and every branches there are at least one hundred men. They're all eating. Why? Because we know, "Krsna will give us. Krsna giving food to the ants, to the elephant. Why not to His servant? We have no..." If you have got this confidence, then... The sastra says, tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ. You should simply try for perfection of life, brahma-jijnasa. Athato brahma-jijnasa. Janmady asya yataḥ. This is the only... Jivasya tattva-jijnasa. This is the only business. "What I am?" The answer is aham brahmasmi, so 'ham, "I am same, Brahman." "So then, what is my relation with the Parambrahman?" Jijnasuḥ sreya uttamam.
(More...) Now, when there is question of jijnasa, brahma-jijnasa, then we inquire from a person who knows. Therefore it is said that tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuḥ sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]: "If you are actually interested in inquiring about Brahman, then you must go to guru who knows Brahman." Tasmad gurum prapadyeta. You cannot understand Brahman realization alone. Therefore, according to Vaisnava philosophy, adau gurvasrayam. The first business is to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. If you want... Not only brahma-jijnasa-any. You must go to the perfect person who knows things. If you are wandering on some street you do not know, you ask somebody, "Where shall I go? In this way or that way?" So this is natural. So about Brahman, jijnasuḥ... Brahma-jijnasa means... That is not ordinary jijnasa. It is called uttamam. Uttamam means transcendental to this material world, which is full of darkness, ignorance. That is called ut. Ud-gata tama yasmad iti uttama. There is no more darkness; simply light. If you, at night, you inquire about something, then it is very difficult. But if you go in the daytime... And at night if you got up on your roof and want to see where is Bombay or where is Santa Cruz, it is very difficult. But daytime, you can see. Similarly, uttamam. You must go out of this darkness, come to the light, and then you will see.
(More...) Imported quote 18118 So Prahlada Maharaja said, sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. Because we have accepted this body... So we must not accept this body, that is called moksa-dvaram. That should be the mission of human life. So we are not interested. Mandaḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhagyaḥ . In this age they are slow and, and they have got their own manufactured ideas. Why? Now, manda-bhagyaḥ: all unfortunate. And upadrutaḥ: always disturbed. So all these are on account of this body. The sastra always says that "Don't work in such a way that you have to accept again body after death." That is, that is your business. Not that to accumulate crores and rupees and make a very good bank balance and skyscraper house and three or dozens of motorcars. They are struggling, forgetting this. But foolish people, they do not know that Krsna will take away all these assets at the time of death. Mrtyuḥ sarva-haras caham [Bg 10.34].
(More...) Imported quote 18172 You have boldly and alone accepted the awesome task of redirecting the foolish apelike men collectively known as human society. With your purified vision you have penetrated the hearts of men and cut the knots of transient attachments, giving us an opportunity to realize our present diseased condition and our eternal position of dependency on Krsna. Who but You Divine Grace could dare to single-handedly denounce without reservation everything that lacks connection through service to the supreme proprietor, Sri Krsna. As you have repeatedly said, "Our test is very simple; you simply ask someone if he accepts Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he says no, then immediately you know that he is a mūḍha, foolish like an ass, rascal." Having rebelled against the enjoyment of the Supreme Lord, everyone in this conditional world of birth and death is falsely thinking themselves independent, making plans which are doomed. Who but Your Divine Grace would have the courage and compassion to repeatedly label these foolish mūḍhas in the category of hogs, dogs, camels and asses, simply to awaken them against their will to the responsibility of human life? It is by your divinely inspired efforts that in this insane misdirected society there stands a genuine hope of a revolution in the hearts of men. You alone can bring the real standard in all spheres of human endeavor. Like a physician, you see all in this world as diseased on account of forgetfulness of devotional service to Sri Krsna. You clearly see the suicidal course in rejecting the cure and therefore you are traversing this planet with hopes of delivering all the fallen souls. One who rejects the medicine of hari-nama, those who are faithless, must return to this dangerous world of repeated birth and death, mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. [Bg 9.3] What benefit will there be for these mūḍhas if in the next life they are going to become dogs?
(More...) Imported quote 18253 Formerly, especially in India, the catur-varnyam, the brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra, so at least the most intelligent class of men, the brahmanas, they were interested to understand brahma-jijnasa. Athato brahma-jijnasa. But at the present moment they are all sūdras. They are not interested about brahma-jijnasa. They are interested how to get more money, where is the cinema, where..., what picture is going... They are interested in that, not about brahma-jijnasa. But the human life is meant for that purpose only. Therefore we learn from Bhagavad-gita. Arjuna is personally teaching us. He is accepting Krsna as guru, sisyas te 'ham [Bg 2.7], "Krsna, now I become Your disciple, not that I remain as Your friend. Friend-to-friend talk is not very serious. Now I want to talk with serious. You become my spiritual master, You teach me, and I will take Your lesson." This should be the... It is not meant for only Arjuna. It is meant for everyone, that if you..., you must find out a guru. The first guru is Krsna, and anyone who is Krsna's representative, he is guru. Guru is Krsna, the original guru, and if Krsna representative is found, is available, then he is also guru.
(More...) Imported quote 18267 Next-regarding your point: program for a spiritual world civilization-it is very nice suggestion. And practically our Krishna Consciousness movement is built on this idea, that we want to make a world civilization on the basis of spiritual understanding. So I am giving you some points which you may expand or do it for understanding of the people in general. But the point should be as follows: 1st point, that any civilization devoid of God consciousness or Krishna Consciousness, is no civilization at all. It is simply a polished type of animal society. This is the first point. So at the present moment, the modern civilization on the basis of so-called scientific knowledge and economic development is trying to avoid God consciousness, or Krishna Consciousness-that is the defect of the modern civilization. Therefore, in spite of all advancement it is zero. So zero has no value. And millions of zeros put together does not make any value. But one is put on the left side of the zero, it increases the value. Then one zero becomes 10, two zero becomes 100, three zero becomes 1000, so it is very nice. This point should be clearly discussed, that without God consciousness, Krishna Consciousness, any attempt of human civilization so-called philosophical or political or economical or labor, they are all zeros. The human society should be divided as a social order, as the intellectual men, the administrator class, and the mercantile class, and the laborer class. And so far spiritual order, they should be divided as the renounced order of life, retired order of life, householder, and student life. Third point, all these 8 divisions are meant for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this Krishna Consciousness movement is meant for teaching this necessities of human civilization. Fourth point, so far the administrator class of men, or mercantile class of men, and laborer class of men, there are many institutions but to train a first class intellectual man, there is no institution all over the world. And there is no institution for spiritual training also. So this Krishna Consciousness movement is trying to help the human society on these two points, which they are lacking. So we have therefore taken a large tract of land to begin with, in W. Virginia, the place is called New Vrindaban. So we want to train students for becoming the first class intellectual person, and instruct the whole human society about the aim of life, and Krishna Consciousness or God consciousness. So we are inviting the desiring or intending students to join in our institution and we invite the public and government to cooperate with our movement. The fifth point is that in whatever division one may be situated, this very aim of life should be to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the duty of everyone, it doesn't matter in what status of life he is situated, but if he wants to have a successful life, then he must learn to see how by his activities the Supreme Lord is satisfied. That should be the aim. Then it does not matter what is the position and occupation of the man, but he is in the right order of civilization because his very aim is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point, And in order to learn this art, how he is able to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has to take instruction or education in the art of Krishna Consciousness, by reading Bhagavad-gita as it is, by reading Srimad-Bhagavatam, which are calculated the science of God, and following the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, such practice should be performed 24 hours. It is not that one may meditate for 15 minutes, and he becomes spiritually advanced, it is not possible. So the Krishna Consciousness movement is training people how to be absorbed in the thought of Krishna, 24 hours. Take for example, the Bhagavad-gita: the instruction of Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita are just suitable for a perfect human civilization. So one should learn this teachings of Bhagavad-gita as it is. Next point, in order to understand this teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, there should be centers where people can assemble daily, morning and evening, and try to understand this Krishna Consciousness or God consciousness movement. So we are trying to open branches all over the world in every city, in every town, in every village, and people should take advantage of it. There is no question of monetary transaction to enter into these centers and institutions, but because we have to maintain such institutions, public should voluntarily contribute and that is very gladly accepted. Next point, when people are accustomed to associate with these different centers, of Krishna Consciousness movement, they will one day come out of the material concept of life. Just like one becomes awakened from sleep. While sleeping, one sees so many nonsense dreams, but as soon as one is awakened, he becomes conscious that oh, I was seeing so many nonsense dreams, actually it has no existence. Similarly, when a person becomes Krishna Conscious, he can understand the falsity representation of this material civilization. Next point, and when he is awakened, he becomes completely detached from the so-called affection for designations, namely, society, friendship and love. Next point, by such understanding, one is not so much materially active. One is satisfied with income which can simply maintain his body and soul together and he is no more interested to increase the bank balance unnecessarily for sense gratification. The defect of the modern civilization that everyone is earning money undoubtedly in large volumes, but he does not know how to spend. He is spending simply for sense gratification and the last word of sense gratification is sex, therefore all money is being spent up for intoxication and sexual life, nudey dance, nudey theater, in so many ways. That means they are spoiling their human source of energy. Next point, one should be so trained up that within the heart he will be freed from all material attraction, but so long the body is there, to keep the body and soul together, he has to work like ordinary man. Next point, the society, friendship and love of material existence may be accepted without any attraction, and whatever the so-called society, friendship and love wants to take service from us, one should simply say, yes, it is very nice, but actually he should give more importance for spiritual advancement of life. Next point, one should know it certain that material resources, either in this planet or in other planets, either in the sky or within the earth, namely in the mines, all the properties that is being utilized at the present moment as economic development, one should understand definitely that all the ingredients supplied or all the ingredients stocked, for example, the petroleum now stocked within the earth, and people are utilizing it for so many power machinery-one should know that this petroleum belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not man-made. Nor the scientists can manufacture. Similarly everything, all commodities, all things, all properties, they are made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding must be there. Next point, one can enjoy such properties but with this understanding, that they belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like one is situated in the public park in a very nice garden, public park, but one should always remember that the public park does not belong to him, personally. But it is the property of the government or the state. Next point, therefore, the properties made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be utilized by all living entities. Every living entities, not only the human beings, but also the animals, they have got right to live on the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point, nobody can encroach upon the right of other living entities. Everyone is supplied by the Lord, the foo (More...) Imported quote 18466 Therefore our main business is how to stop the cycle of birth and death-no more accepting the body. That is answered here, as Kapiladeva said, na anyatra mad bhagavataḥ pradhana-purusesvarat: "You cannot get it without taking shelter at My lotus feet. You cannot get out of this fear."
(More...) Imported quote 18559 But our real business is that "Why we are put into the cycle of birth and death, and according to the body we are suffering different types of miserable condition of life?" Actually, we are trying to enjoy life, sukham, but it is a struggle for existence. Manaḥ sasthani indriyani prakrti-sthani karsati. We are having great struggle for existence. Therefore we should study philosophically and scientifically, analyze what is this body and what is beyond the body-soul-and what is the soul's function, where is the soul's place; ultimately what is the end goal of the activities of the soul. This is human life. And all this knowledge can be had from the Vedic literature, and the Srimad-Bhagavatam is the essence of Vedic literature. Nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam [SB 1.1.3].
(More...) Imported quote 18674 So the mission of human life should be how to clarify this consciousness again into that pure consciousness of Krsna, Krsna consciousness. That is the mission of human life. The consciousness is impure; therefore there are so many varieties, material varieties, and we are captivated by these material varieties. But that is not giving us any happiness. We are especially very much unhappy on account of janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi [Bg 13.9]. So if we want to get relief from the miserable condition of this material life... This place is described in the Bhagavad-gita, duḥkhalayam asasvatam [Bg 8.15]:
(More...) Imported quote 18706 Buddhayo 'vyavasayinam. Vyavasayatmika, niscayatmika. "Now, my life will be successful when I accept very seriously the instruction given by Krsna and it is delivered to me through the transparent via media of guru. Then it will be successful." Ar na koriho mane asa.
(More...) Imported quote 20071 The aim of life should be to make a sincere effort to go "Back to Godhead'' but contrary to this, the tendency is to go back to hell or in the cycle of evolutionary animal life as it is described in the 16th chapter of Bhagavad-gita.
(More...) Imported quote 21656 Answer: The real aim of life is to go back to Home, back to Godhead. We all living entities in different forms of body numbering 8,400,000 forms beginning from the aquatics up to the best advanced form of human life, there is a regular evolution by the laws of nature. The real fact is that we living entities although part and parcel of God, on account of our own disobedience have come down to this material world under different circumstances. We have different types of material dresses to fulfill the tendency for sense gratification, and this by the laws of nature, by association with the 3 modes of material nature. We are transmigrating through different forms of life. So this human form of life is given to us as an opportunity to understand our position because in the human form of life we have more developed consciousness than the lower forms of life like the aquatics, insects, plants, birds, beasts and the civilized and uncivilized human beings. So the point is that a human being must know the aim of life is to go back to Home, back to Godhead.
(More...) Imported quote 24205 Therefore those who are Krsna conscious devotees have taken shelter of Krsna, and the beginning is hearing and chanting. Sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ. So our fervent, humble request to everyone is to please accept this chanting. This movement of Krsna consciousness was introduced by Lord Caitanya 500 years ago in Bengal, and now all over India and especially in Bengal there are millions of followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now this movement is starting in the Western countries, so just be very serious in understanding it. We do not criticize any other religion. Don't take it in that way. We have no business criticizing any other process of religion. Krsna consciousness is giving people the most sublime religion-love of God. That's all. We are teaching to love God. Everyone is already loving, but that love is misplaced. We love this boy or this girl or this country or that society or even the cats and dogs, but we are not satisfied. So we must place our love in God. If one places one's love in God, he will be happy.
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=1599
|