by Bhaktivaibhava Swami
Different people have different individual interests. There is a vasi variety of departments of knowledge the mind and intelligence gets absorbed in. However, the fact remains that every subject matter of mundane study and knowledge is of a temporary nature. And that temporary nature is contrary to the nature of the eternal soul, the eternal living entity.
Human evolution begins when inquiry into the eternal nature of existence awakens in the mind. Every activity of the human being is to be considered a failure unless he inquires about the eternal nature of the Absolute Truth.
If we truly believe that every human being, in fact every living entity, is an eternal soul, knowledge of the eternal nature, described in detail in Srila Prabhupada’s books, is for the self-interest of every human being on this planet. In no other literature do we find such detailed and voluminous knowledge about the eternal nature of the soul as we find in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Therefore, these books are most beneficial for everyone without any discrimination.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books contain the most detailed knowledge of the material creation and the cosmic manifestation.
Even ordinary people at one point in their lives begin to wonder about the universe, the millions of stars they see at night in the sky. Although they are primarily occupied most of the time with material activities, such thoughts occasionally occur. They create a sense of belonging. Having a sense of belonging is a common experience. A sense of belonging is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. Feeling that you belong is most important in seeing value in life and in coping with intensely painful emotions.
Most people feel connected with their family members, friends, social media, religion, etc. Similarly, there is a natural sense of belonging related to this world, this universe. What is my connection to and my role in this creation? What is my purpose in life? Why do I exist in the first place? These or similar thoughts appear like flashes in the mind of every human being.
Srila Prabhupada’s books answer all these questions in an overwhelming way, leaving no questions open. Srila Prabhupada’s books do not “search” for knowledge; they rather transmit knowledge. Srila Prabhupada’s books satisfy profoundly the sense of belonging related to the cosmos we are living in and to the overall material creation.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books precisely explain the three modes of material nature, by which everyone is bound and conditioned in a particular way.
The three modes of material nature—a fascinating subject matter. A subject matter entirely lacking in societies’ educational system and yet of utmost importance. Every thought people in material life have, every activity they perform, every desire they have, every food they eat, even hope and faith—all are influenced by the three modes of material nature.
The three modes of material nature condition a person in a particular way. People want to be free, or they think that they are free, but if one does not become free from the influence of the three modes of nature, there is no question of freedom. One is forced to act and behave in a particular way, often against one’s own will. Many times people regret something they have said or done to somebody. It is being imposed upon them by the modes of material nature.
Being educated in the nature and function of the three modes reveals the truth about one’s own psychophysical nature, the particular condition of one’s birth, and so much more. What could be more interesting? Such education gives the answer to a host of questions everyone has. Srila Prabhupada’s books educate people in the science of the three modes of material nature. This science is a must for everyone to study.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books inform people about the detailed laws of karmic reactions—the cause of suffering and joy.
Many people wonder why there is so much suffering in this world. Why do bad things happen to good people? And why do good things happen to bad people? Not understanding the rigid laws of karma, people lean toward atheism. How can an all-good, all-knowledgeable God allow all this suffering to go on without interfering? He could instantly put an end to all the miseries and evil in this world.
The present life is only one frame out of an entire film spool (reel) of material existence. People don’t see the whole picture. Reactions to activities one performed in past lives strike or bless us in our present life. This of course should not mean that we justify violence committed against any living being by thinking that whatever happens to a victim is his karma. Perhaps it is, but perhaps it is not. The Vedic injunction states, ma himsyat sarva bhutani: “Never commit violence against anyone.” Human beings have a certain amount of free choice. They can create good or bad karma. The ksatriyas in Vedic society provide protection against violence. If everything would be karmic reactions, it would go against the laws of karma if ksatriyas would interfere to protect humans and animals. The laws of karma are extremely complex, and we require accurate knowledge, historical accounts, and examples to be able to understand karmic reactions in a proper way.
Since everybody is subjected to karmic reactions, it is in everyone’s interest and for everyone’s benefit to understand the laws of karma. Such knowledge can potentially instantly change anyone’s life for the better by providing an understanding of the causes of suffering. Srila Prabhupada’s books provide this knowledge, informing one not only how to avoid suffering reactions to one’s present deeds, but also how to avoid suffering reactions to deeds one performed in previous lives.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books remind everyone that there is a higher, spiritual purpose in life.
It is natural that people are engaged and absorbed in their respective studies, occupations, and life’s passions. Societies and social life have existed since ancient times and will continue to exist. However, there is a higher purpose in life, a purpose that extends beyond our present life. The soul temporarily occupies a particular body and continues to exist when the body comes to an end. To educate ourselves in understanding the identity and nature of the immortal self, the soul, is a higher purpose in life. Anything related to that which continues to exist is of a higher nature than anything related to that which ceases to exist.
nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
ubhayor api drsto ‘ntas tv anayos tattva-darsibhih
“Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.16)
This fact is eternally true, independent of whether we might consider this to be important or not or whether we believe it or not. Without contemplating on the topics concerning the soul, one has not yet begun human life. As Srila Prabhupada so accurately phrased it, a materialistic society devoid of atma-tattva is “a soul-killing civilization.” Srila Prabhupada’s books are changing the destiny of such a society into a soul-revival society.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books provide the knowledge of everyone’s eternal constitutional identity.
In psychology, the term “identity crisis” refers to the failure to achieve ego identity during adolescence. Individuals struggle to “find themselves.” Youngsters experience this struggle when everything rapidly changes, especially their own personal looks and their outlook on life. It often reappears as a midlife crisis, when people begin to realize that they are slowly heading toward old age. Is it worth hanging on to things that are transitory, passing? What will happen after death? These thoughts lead to another kind of identity crisis called “identity diffusion,” which people naturally try to cope with in various ways. But the questions remain unanswered.
From the spiritual perspective, every living being in this creation forgot his eternal identity. What is someone’s position who doesn’t know who he is in a deeper sense? Srila Prabhupada wrote an article called “Who Is Crazy?” as an answer to the charge against the devotees that they are crazy people.
In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Sr! Krsna says, “My dear Arjuna, there are different classes of men. One class of men are sleeping, and the other class of men are awake.” To read Srila Prabhupada’s books is the process of awakening from an eons-long slumber of forgetfulness. Tamasi ma jyotir gama: “Don’t remain in this darkness. Go to the light.” This call and other similar Vedic aphorisms are meant for everyone, without any discrimination.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books reveal the spiritual unity of all living beings.
People are longing for the unity of all people, for one human race. “We are all brothers and sisters” is a slogan in songs and prayers. Especially in the 60’s this concept was embraced—no restrictions between genders. Human beings were perceived as one broad family. But in time this ideal gradually weakened. The basis of that concept was rather shallow.
The fundamental basis for the unity of not only human beings but all living beings is described in Srila Prabhupada’s books. The Bhagavad-gita is the most essential scripture on atma-tattva, knowledge of the soul. The soul is of the same spiritual nature in whatever body it temporarily resides.
vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah
“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dogeater [outcaste].” (Bhagavad-gita 5.18)
Sama-darsinah means “who see with equal vision.” This equal vision we find described throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books in philosophy, stories, and culture, the Vedic culture. The more people read Srila Prabhupada’s books, the more they begin to understand the central point, the pivot, of everyone’s existence.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books contain knowledge of the living entities’ eternal relationship with Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
“If there is a God, the cause of all causes, how am I related to Him?”
Probability and statistics merely tell us how things happen, but we learn nothing about the causes which lead to these events. In science, causality has always been a fundamental notion.
It is not unusual to hear people suggest that time plus chance accomplished the evolution of simple organisms into more complex entities. There is a logical error in such a statement. There is no such thing as chance. Chance is not an entity that causes things to happen.
There is the tossing-a-coin example: The odds of the coin coming up either heads or tails are 50/50. What we forget is that one flip of the coin involves a whole chain of causal factors. The weight of the coin, the shape of the coin, the upward impulse of the toss, air resistance, spin—the inlilal conditions—all interact on each toss of the coin. It is a mathematical convenience to say that the probability of heads is 50% and the probability of tails is 50%. Every individual toss of a coin is controlled by the laws of physics. There is no mechanism called “chance” determining the outcome of any toss of the coin. Chance as a cause does not exist. Srila Prabhupada’s books explain in remarkable detail that Lord Krsna, accompanied by His countless expansions and energies, is the cause of everything.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books contain the highest knowledge of the different relationships the eternal souls can have with Lord Krsna.
The general concept of a relationship with God is that it is one of awe and fear. This is confirmed in the Taittirlya Upanisad (2.8):
bhisasmad vatah pavate bhisodeti suryah
bhisasmad agnis candras ca mrtyur dhavati pancamah
“It is out of fear of the Supreme Brahman that the wind is blowing, out of fear of Him that the sun regularly rises and sets, and out of fear of Him that fire acts. It is only due to fear of Him that death and Indra, the king of heaven, perform their respective duties.”
We find similar descriptions in other books. However, the living entities can have another relationship with Lord Krsna, a relationship of a more familiar nature, of friendship, all the way to a conjugal relationship.
Srila Prabhupada’s books inform everyone about their eternal relationship with Lord Krsna. The description of the five main rasas (transcendental mellows) and their subdivisions is unique. There is no information about these rasas in any other scripture or religious teaching. The information stands on its own, waiting to be delivered to every human being on this planet.
• Srila Prabhupada’s books teach the harmonious combination of worldly life and duties with spiritual activities, leading to eternal liberation, freedom from all suffering.
People often shy away from getting involved in anything religious or spiritual because they think it is incompatible with their mundane engagements and family affairs. Picturing the lifestyle of a monk or nun, a yogi or Buddhist monk, they consider a spiritual path an option for perhaps later in their lives, if at all.
However, spiritual life can be taken up at any time and to whatever degree is comfortable for the practitioner. The progress, however minute it might appear, will never be lost. As Lord Krsna states in the Bhagavad-gita (2.40):
nehabhikrama-naso ‘sti pratyavayo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat
“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”
It is not like a material project, which has to be completed if one is to be successful. And still the option always remains to be fully dedicated to the spiritual path at any time.
In the past, great kings and people from all walks of life practiced spiritual life despite their full involvement in mundane activities. Srila Prabhupada’s books give insight into how to harmoniously combine mundane activities with spiritual activities. One kind of activity does not exclude the other.
Therefore, Srila Prabhupada’s books are meant for everyone, without any discrimination. There should be no doubt about it.