(Notes #23)
Solving the Ultimate Problems of Life
anta-kale ca mam eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yati nasty atra samsayah
TRANSLATION
"And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt."
PURPORT
"In this verse the importance of Krishna consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits his body in Krishna consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord. The word smaran ("remembering") is important. Remembrance of Krishna is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Krishna consciousness in devotional service. To remember Krishna one should chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, incessantly, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than a tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully remembering Krishna and so attain the supreme goal."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 8.5, Purport)
In this all-important verse and purport, we learn the ultimate goal of life in a nutshell and precisely how to achieve it according to the sastra, or ancient Vedic wisdom. This is also explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:
etavan sankhya-yogabhyam
sva-dharma-parinisthaya
janma-labhah parah pumsam
ante narayana-smrtih
"The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life."
(S.B. 2.1.6, Purport)
The Sanskrit phrase, "ante narayana-smrtih" is very significant, meaning to remember Narayana, the Personality of Godhead, at the time of death.
It's natural that we tend to ignore the fact that we're mortal beings in this world and that our demise is approaching sooner or later. Without spiritual knowledge, this inevitability -- "as sure as death" -- is a very difficult concept to accept, what to speak of embrace wholeheartedly within ourselves. Therefore in human society the topic of death is often completely avoided and swept under the carpet, even at funerals and memorial services for the deceased. In fact, a party is often celebrated in memory of loved ones who have passed away, without our really knowing their true destination. To think of the unknowable is frightening to us, but sooner or later, we must confront the harsh reality of death in one form or another. Even a child whose beloved pet has died must stare into the hollow eyes of death even for a moment, although parents are apt to quickly promise that another and even cuter pet will be purchased as soon as possible to soften the blow and divert the child's attention from the greatest unsolved mystery of life. However, in Krishna consciousness there's no attempt to hide from the truth. In the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna declares:
dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change." (B.G. 2.13)
According to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supreme authority in Vedic knowledge (vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo/ vedanta-krid veda-vid eva caham (B.G. 15.15), all material bodies will die, no matter how exalted or fallen, but all souls will continue on. As for our individual destinations, that depends on our consciousness at the essential moment of leaving this mortal coil. Krishna recommends that we think of Him and reach the supreme goal of human life, His eternal abode in the paravyoma, or spiritual sky (Cc. Madhya, 20.192), far beyond this manifested and unmanifested world of matter.
Along the way, we're also confronted with the complementary vicissitudes of taking birth, becoming old and diseased. This is our stark predicament in the material world: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, translated as "birth, death, old age and disease" (B.G. 13.9). No one is immune from these problems and to solve them effectively requires not only knowledge, deep contemplation and appropriate action, but also the expert guidance of "those who are seers of the truth" (B.G. 2.16), i.e. the expert spiritual master in disciplic succession (parampara) from Lord Krishna Himself.
Throughout Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, letters and conversations, he constantly reminds us of the fleeting nature of this shadow or "spot life," as Prabhupada referred to it, and how we should approach this weighty subject matter with effective solutions.
"This material body is actually a bad bargain because it is prone to suffer, but we must make the best use of this bad bargain. That means to always be engaged in the service of Krishna without fail."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, June 3, 1975)
When we're forced to undergo the sufferings of life (which we all do in one form or another), we can try our utmost to avoid them by employing the best doctors, healers, Naturopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, Chinese herbalists and what have you, but in the end, none of these will save us from the cruel jaws of death. Of course, Srila Prabhupada was always practical and advised his disciples and followers to try their best to remain strong and healthy for a greater purpose:
"The highest goal of life can be achieved as long as one's body is stout and strong. We should therefore live in such a way that we keep ourselves always healthy and strong in mind and intelligence so that we can distinguish the goal of life from a life full of problems. A thoughtful man must act in this way, learning to distinguish right from wrong, and thus attain the goal of life."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.5, Purport)
Yet despite the best of our efforts in this regard, the ravages of time will inevitably wear the body and mind down like a new car which eventually becomes a "clunker" through repeated use during the passage of years. So why should we avoid discussing our plans for what happens at the time of death and afterwards? After all, we're headed there sooner or later and factually we don't know exactly how or when. But just as we can be assured of taxes, we can also be certain of death and dying. Sometimes there are warnings and sometimes not. Generally in the normal course of life, there is gradual aging and deterioration and the tell-tale signs which we often try to hide or patch up: graying hair, creaking bones, diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, failing eyesight, etc. Plastic surgeons may try to mask the external manifestations of growing old, but nothing can eventually hide the progression of incurable disease hidden deep beneath the skin. Srila Prabhupada kindly directs us towards the longterm spiritual solution to these problems:
"Krishna therefore presents that 'Your real problem is birth, death, old age, and disease, your real problem. You are making solution of all the problems by scientific advancement, by education, by so on, so on, political maneuver, everything. It is all right, but how you are going to solve this problem -- janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]? How you'll solve this problem?' Actually human life is meant for solving this problem, not this temporary problem. Temporary problem will go on. If you don't solve this problem, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi, then any form of life, there will be problems.
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, Madras, January 1, 1976)
Of course, it's not that spiritualists or devotees immediately escape the shackles of material bondage with all its unpleasant consequences. But the sincere aspirant knows how to face these difficulties with confidence, acting on the basis of guru, sastra and sadhu (the advice of the spiritual master, the Vedas and saintly persons).
"As long as the body is there it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence. We cannot avoid them. Sometimes we receive letters from neophyte devotees questioning why they have fallen sick, although pursuing Krishna consciousness. They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant (dvandva-titikshaya). This is the world of duality. One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness can continue without impediment from any material opposition. Lord Sri Krishna therefore advises in Bhagavad-gita (2.14), tams titikshasva bharata: 'My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances. Be fixed in your Krishna conscious activities.'"
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.24, Purport)
And further, Srila Prabhupada describes how the Lord can teach us the wisdom that we all need to understand and realize through various trials and tribulations in the execution of our activities in devotional service:
"Sometimes Krishna may put us into some difficulty just to purify us and force us to advance in Krishna consciousness. The devotee should always see his difficulty in this light, that Krishna is so kind upon me for creating this condition of struggling, thus He is relieving me of so many billions of lifetime of sinful reactions by this very insignificant and temporary condition of suffering something."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, December 29, 1972)
The difference between the sufferings of a materialist and those of a spiritualist are often described as the difference between the way a cat holds its prey and the way it holds its offspring -- both by the neck -- but one violently and one gently as the case may be. The devotee of Krishna is not afraid because He knows that Krishna is ultimately his friend and has his or her best interests in mind:
"Krishna does not like to see His sincere devotee suffer or become frustrated or depressed. He will not stand idly by in any such case, so do not fear on that account.
"Krishna does not like to see His men suffer or become frustrated and depressed on His behalf, no. If we remain always faithful to Him, working very hard despite all difficulties, very quickly you will meet Krishna face-to-face, you may know it for certain."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, December 19, 1972)
In fact, Krishna is so favorably disposed towards His devotee that he strongly advises Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita, kaunteya pratijanihi/ na me bhaktah pranasyati: "O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes." (B.G. 9.31)
Not only that, but even if one faulters on the path, if one is sincere at heart, Krishna will never forsake His devotee:
"In a firm relationship with the Lord, the devotee does not give up the Lord's service under any circumstance. As far as the Lord Himself is concerned, if the devotee chooses to leave, the Lord brings him back again, dragging him by the hair."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 15.154, Purport)
So activities in Krishna consciousness are all-auspicious and "a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear." (B.G. 2.40) This is nicely substantiated in the following purport by Srila Prabhupada:
"As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (2.40), svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: 'Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.' The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhava-grahi janardana because He takes only the essence of a devotee's attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhava-grahi janardana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.2, Purport)
It should be clearly noted that Srila Prabhupada was never callous towards anyone's pain or suffering. There are many instances where he personally cared for sick or injured devotees. But Prabhupada also knew that not every material problem can be solved by material means and sometimes he advised that we just have to be tolerant and continue with our devotional service through thick and thin:
"There are many examples in history of persons who have been very much disabled physically, but still have executed Krishna Consciousness. Still, up to date in places like Vrndavana, India, there are many persons who are blind, crippled, lame, deformed, etc., but they are determined to practice Krishna Consciousness to their best ability.
"So, you should also do like that. Simply be determined to practice the process of Bhakti-yoga with whatever abilities you may have. If you are really sincere, then Krishna will give you help.
"If you require any medical help, you can take as much as is needed."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, March 14, 1975)
So dear readers and friends, if you or a loved one are suffering and even possibly preparing to depart from this world, take heart. Krishna has not forgotten us and has amply provided valuable information by which we can overcome the ultimate problems of life. Srila Prabhupada confirms the statements of Krishna both by example and precept. When he was preparing to leave this world in November of 1977, he continued serving His beloved Lord Krishna and his dear spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, by narrating his Bhaktivedanta purports until his very last breath. And his teachings are chock-full of relevant advice and instructions in this regard, underscoring the mercy and compassion of Krishna and His pure devotees upon all suffering souls in this world:
"So to get a material body is not at all pleasure. It is always miserable condition, from the very beginning and up to the point of death, simply miserable condition. This is intelligence, that the miserable condition means we accept this material body. Therefore, to be out of miserable condition means not to accept again this misery. That should be the aim and objective of life -- not to accept. That we have repeatedly said. That can be achieved very easily, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. After giving up this body, we do not accept anymore material body, provided we become fully Krishna conscious. At the time of death, if we simply remember Krishna, yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. That is the highest perfection of life, simply to remember Krishna. That is also the statement in the... If we can consciously remember Krishna: 'Whatever was possible for me, I have tried to execute. Now this is the last day; You do whatever You like. That's all.' But Krishna is very kind. He will at once take you back to home, back to Godhead. Ante narayana smrti. This is the highest perfection of life. Therefore we have to practice Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. By practicing sada tad-bhava-bhavitah [Bg. 8.6], this is required. Always think, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. Krishna advises 'Always think of Me.' Where is the difficulty? We have to think of something. We cannot keep our mind vacant. That is not possible. So make it a point, that think of Krishna, that's all. Think of Krishna, and if you chant, if you engage your tongue, 'Hare Krishna,' and if you hear, then everything is compact in Krishna consciousness."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, Hyderabad, April 7, 1975)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
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