Our Progressive Path is Guaranteed

By Caitanya das, 4.5 2015

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja said this world is no place for a gentleman. This indicates that this world is full of persons inflicted by the modes of passion and ignorance - an observation made by Srila Prabhupada as his ship arrived in the U.S.A. in 1965. Persons afflicted by these modes are forced to act out their endless desires sometimes in ruthless ways, without a care for others' interests. After all, they have free will and make their choices.

When we come in contact with such persons its hardly surprising that they inflict great harm on us. After all, such persons have chosen to associate themselves with the lower modes, so freely they make their decisions in life. And if we are careful we will avoid such association less they inflict harm on us, for these persons are forced to act by the increasing lust, anger and greed sitting in their mind, intelligence and senses. They will do anything to satisfy their needs including eliminating others around them.

Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said first business is to give up harmful association. If we place ourselves in such harmful association then we can expect harm physically, mentally, intellectually, or spiritually.

Now would that be my karma Because if I had chosen to give up such association then no harm would have come. So freewill laces us in certain situations, and intelligence and education is needed to guide us and protect us from harm so we can make the right choices. So if harm comes to us or anybody it's due to placing ourselves in the wrong association or situation.

It is the mercy of the devotees that real education takes place so we should follow their example and teachings. The whole varnasrama body is meant for society to take advantage of the intelligence of the brahmanas, and the ksatriyas will establish the protective circle so no harm will come, as rules of good society are established and implemented in every field and harmful situations and the influence of demoniac mentality decrease. Then society will be peaceful, and lust, anger, greed etc. will be minimised, as we have seen in previous ages -- something we can benefit from now if we keep ourselves in proper association in Krishna consciousness.

In Kali Yuga the process of chanting brings us immediately to the transcendental plane and therefore it's indicated by our acaryas that very quickly one can advance, and the previous system of gradual development that the varnasrama brings can be by-passed, as one comes to serve and associate with the Vaisnavas, and progresses to a platform beyond the brahmana. Only by such association and training is all karma removed whether in seed form, or about to sprout, or that karma which is current. In that way all our previous bad associations and the resultant actions can be eliminated. Provided we stay clear of persons in the modes of passion and ignorance further harm and entanglement will be avoided, and if we hear from pure devotees our progressive path is guaranteed.

The whole atmosphere of the material world is troublesome. Miseries inflicted by other beings, or nature, or the mind. There is danger at every step. Even great souls and incarnations of the Lord appear to become inconvenienced. Lord Nityananda, Jada Bharata, Pralada Maharaja, the Pandavas, Haridas Thakura. Also Jesus Christ was put to death by the demons and the envious, Srila Prabhupada comments, through no fault of his own. In recent times, Srila Bhaktivinoda was harassed by a yogi, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had his life threatened, Srila Prabhupada was threatened by a mad man in the U.S.A. in the early days of his preaching, and his encounter with Mr. Nair in Bombay is another example of the forces of the demons and the envious.

In this age the demons and the envious seem to go unchallenged as the ksatriyas and brahmanas fail in their duties, and terrorism is practically left unchecked and funded in duplicity by so-called allies of western countries. Political agitation by western so-called democracies adds fuel to the fire. So no simple answer of karma will comprehend all of the ills of the material world -- a place where individuals try to lord it over, and in their selfish misdirected lives create havoc for the innocent.

The Hare Krishna movement is the only hope in these times and the establishment of Varnasrama for guidance of humanity is desperately needed. The Sankirtana movement is for bringing about such a change, so let every devotee stand up and be counted, whoever you are, and whatever condition you are in. Prabhupada needs you. The work is already destined to succeed, so take the credit that Mahaprabhu wants to give you.