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Lose A Battle But Win The War! – Part 2

“Please after proper deliberation tell me of the duty of everyone, and
specifically of those who are about to die.” – Srimad Bhagavatam
(1.19.24)

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur said that when walking we raise the front
foot only when the back foot is firmly placed on the ground. Likewise,
we dive into pure devotional service when our varnashrama roles-
duties in social order, are firmly grounded. If without a firm footing
in this world, we sing abstract glories of spiritual life, we could
land up with both feet in air-a thumping fall on the ground is
guaranteed. Some people argue that material wellbeing is of paramount
importance for human society. But we see that even people who are
materially endowed, refuse to seek a higher, spiritual cause. They are
like a comfortable prisoner; some prisoners are given an air
conditioned cell with library and bar facilities- but they are still
inside a prison. We may live a comfortable life and may work hard to
attain it, but at the end of the day, we are still bound by the
stringent laws of the material world. We are trapped here in the world
of samsara, and what are we doing to get out of the shackles of the
three modes of material nature?

A teacher punished the mischievous students by getting them to stand
under the hot sun for a few hours. Amongst the naughty boys was one
who sobered up, and he was allowed to sit on the ground. Later the boy
gleefully told his parents that while others had to stand as a
punishment, he was rewarded- because he could sit on the ground. His
father pointed out that wasn’t any better- he was still under the
scorching sun and was punished! Some of us get some momentary relief
from the sufferings of this world, and we celebrate foolishly and
prematurely. Real smart action would be to work on a process that
would guarantee getting out of this world.

Srila Prabhupada pointed out that real intelligence is to understand
our suffering condition in this world and get out of the cycle of
birth and death. When a reporter once explained how medical
advancement in human society has ensured a lower death rate, Srila
Prabhupada immediately snapped him; he said death rate is same
everywhere- 100%! All those who are born will die and therefore death
is inevitable! The reporter then challenged: what would happen to the
world if everybody became Krishna conscious. Srila Prabhupada humbled
him by saying that would never happen because there would always
remain a few obstinate men like this reporter who questioned, who
wouldn’t take up to spiritual life.

In the purport to the verse quoted above, Srila Prabhupada writes,
“The question relating to the dying man is most important because
everyone is a dying man, either very shortly or after one hundred
years. The duration of life is immaterial but the duty of a dying man
is very important.”

Therefore Krishna consciousness is a dire emergency and Srila
Prabhupada appealed to humans everywhere to take up to the process and
perfect their lives.

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