Material Problems And Spiritual Solutions

Material Problems and Spiritual Solutions

“He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.” [BG 16.23]

The Logic of Geeta 16.23 If one doesn’t follow the authority (scripture) then one does as one likes (accepting and rejecting). Who to say what we really like we are perception of reality is vitiated by 4 defects: imperfect senses, prone to illusion, commits mistakes, and cheating propensity Because of defects we cannot reach perfection, nor become happy, nor achieve the Supreme Destination. We require descending mercy: God, Scripture, Spiritual Mater, and Saintly persons

Understanding the Real Problems of Life Real problems are problems for every specie. A real problem has the following criteria: 1) It is common to all 2) Nobody wants it 3) Nobody can avoid it

Death “ In that diseased condition the dying person’s eyes bulge due to the pressure of air from within, and his glands become congested with mucus. He has difficulty breathing, and there is a rattling sound within his throat…thus he dies most pathectically.” SB 3.30.16-18

Old Age “ This frightful situation cannot be remedied by any person in this material world. My lord, it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as eternal time [kāla] that has approached us all… Despite your unwillingness to die and your desire to live even at the cost of honor and prestige, your miserly body will certainly dwindle and deteriorate like an old garment.” SB 1.13.19 & 25

Disease We may cure one disease for sometime, but we can’t eradicate disease.

Birth Birth is an extremely painful experience for the living entity. For 9 long months, human fetus lies crapped within the darkness of the womb, scorched by mother’s gastric fire. Hungry worms in the abdominal cavity torment the child. Child passes urine and stool in the same pack. Such is the misery of birth.

Perception of the Evil of the Four Problems of Life Lord Krishna says in the Gita that it is very important for every sane mane human being to “[perceive] the evil of birth, death, old age, and disease…” Unless there is perception of these evils we go on trying to enjoy the material world unconsciousness of our precarious situation.

The Three-Fold Miseries Some argue: “The problems of birth, old age, disease, and death come only once in a while. We can just ignore them and enjoy life for the remaining time.” However, at every moment we are suffering due to a least one of the following three-fold miseries: Adhyatamika-Klesha Adhibhautika-Klesha Adhidaivika-Klesha

Adhyatmika-Klesha: Miseries caused by one’s own mind and body Body and mind give rise to innumerable problems In year 2000, in America, 19 million youths were suffering from mental illness; everyday 1200 youths were attempting to commit suicide and 1/10 th of them were sucessful.

Adhibhautika-Klesha: Miseries Caused by Other Living Beings Even if one’s body and mind are healthy, other living being, i.e. enemy, boss, collegue, relative, family member, terrorist, bed bug, mosquito, etc., is sure to bring some misery.

Adhidaivika-Klesha: Miseries Causes by Nature December 26, 2004 Tsunami: killed about 150,000 people in 1 day and left millions homeless in 9 countries 2008 Cyclone: 43,000 and still counting…

The Need to Approach God The need for spiritual knowledge, i.e. a spiritual solution to the real problems of life, is to first understand that we are all searching after happiness at every moment in our lives. If there’s a creator to the creation, then what logically follows is that the creator knows for what purpose the material world exist and therefore, the best solution can be offering by such a creator only. Spiritual solution means that offered by God, Krishna.

One thing is for sure: We’re Not God! Can we confidently say “I get what I want” and “I don’t get what I don’t want”? “ Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?” SB 11.10.17

We’re Definitely Not in Control If a person could really control his destiny, why would he create problems for himself? Napoleon Bonaparte Chris Reeves Rockefeller Mohammed Ali Even the greatest of the great personalities have to deal with the problems of life. Therefore, real human life is the inquire how to stop the problems of life.

Cover Up is Not a Solution All the advancement is science and technology are orientated for eliminating or reducing the problems of life and increasing the comfort of life. Despite all efforts, suffering appears to be increasing and happiness ever receding like a mirage in a dessert. “Scientific advancement” means “Newer and more ingenious ways to cover up the reality.”

The False Glare of Advance Society Thanks to science, we have more sophisticated technological gadgets-iphone, ipod, lap-top, airplanes, etc.-give a superficial covering of comfort and advancement in life. Beyond the razzle-dazzle, the problems of life still persist, i.e. birth, death, disease, and old age and thus people are not any happier.

Perplexities of Material Life “ A materialistic person, thinking himself very advanced in intelligence, continually acts for economic development. But again and again, as enunciated in the Vedas, he is frustrated by material activities, either in this life or in the next. Indeed, the results one obtains are inevitably the opposite of those one desires.” SB 7.7.41

Solution Today-Problems Tomorrow Many scientific inventions have apparently increased the comfort of man, but they have given rise to secondary problems. What is solution today is the cause of the problem tomorrow. Examples: 1) Automobiles 2) Cell Phones

Real Solution Requires A Change in Consciousness “[One] cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.”-Albert Einstein

No Such Things as Material Solution to Material Problems Science gives only patch up solution to cover up problems, but does not help solve the problems. Despite technological growth, man has not become happier because the problems created by technology cause further complications nor has technology solve the real problems of life. Modern educated men are purchasing the attractive comforts of materialistic life at the expense of ignoring knowledge of the soul and God. Such a life with no proper direction will only make one more miserable now and in the future.

Spiritual Solution is the God Approach to Life

“ Although there are many remedies by which to get out of miserable life, any such remedies in the material world are more miserable than the miseries themselves. Therefore I think that the only remedy is to engage in Your service. Kindly instruct me in such service.” SB 7.9.17

Material Problems And Spiritual Solutions

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Material Problems And Spiritual Solutions