We all know that sastra predicts a 10,000 year golden age within this iron age of Kali, and that it began with the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We can see that the Krishna Consciousness Movement is spreading all over the world and we take it that this indicates the dawn of the predicted golden age. It will not simply be that a great number of temples and devotees will usher in this golden age. The society as a whole must undergo a transformation. Although the Krishna Consciousness Movement is expanding, it appears that the society as a whole is becoming more and more degraded. Srila Prabhupada wrote in the preface of the First Canto that his Bhagavatam is “a cultural presentation for the espiritualisation of the entire human society.” What would be the first transformation of society as a whole? Please read Srila Prabhupada’s preaching to philosophers, scientists, and other educated guests. What Srila Prabhupada abhorred is the godlessness of modern society. He was disgusted that the atheistic theory that life evolved from chemicals has gained prominence in the world and in the minds of men. Srila Prabhupada formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute to challenge atheistic scientists and usher in a new age with a proper understanding of matter, spirit, and the controller of both. We are all meant to be gurus. Srila Prabhupada often quoted this verse spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and recorded in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita:
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krishna’-upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa
“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krishna as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”
While speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam in Honolulu in May of 1976 Srila Prabhupada said: “What is this Krishna consciousness movement’s propaganda? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that “Every one of you become guru.” He doesn’t want rascal imitation gurus, but real gurus. Because people are in darkness, we require many millions of gurus to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission is that: “Everyone of you become a guru.” Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. You haven’t got to
go to foreign countries. Wherever you are, teach and become a guru. If you have got the power, you can go to other countries, but it is not required. In whichever village, country, or town you are, become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. “But I have no qualification. How can I become a guru?” There is no need of any qualification. Yare dekha tare kaha krishna-
upadesa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] “Whomever you meet, simply instruct what Krishna has said. That’s all. You become a guru.”
As a guru, I feel that, just as Arjuna was informed by Krishna that the body is not the self, we should also first explain to people that “you are not the body.”
While speaking on Bhagavad-gita in Los Angeles in 1968, Srila Prabhupada said, “The Bhagavad-gita, although it is the ABCD of spiritual instruction, it begins from the stage which the jnanis, philosophers, and yogis are trying to reach. It is a simple truth. A very simple truth. Krishna, as the supreme authority, is presenting this very simply, that dehino ‘smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara [Bg. 2.13]. As in this body there are changes, similarly the ultimate change is called death. But the spirit soul is
existing within the body in spite of all these changes. Similarly the spirit soul will continue to exist even after the final change of the body. This is a simple truth. Try to understand this. This is the basic principle for further progress. If one does not understand this point of view, there is no progress. This is the ABCD, that “I am not this body.”
If we, the living entities, are not these bodies, then the theory that life evolved from chemicals cannot stand. Srila Prabhupada discussed this with a scientist-disciple while walking in the early morning on Venice Beach in Los Angeles in 1973.
Svarupa Damodara: Life started from life. It cannot have begun from matter.
Srila Prabhupada: That’s right. If you can establish this theory, you will get a Nobel Prize. Try for it. In this way, all these rascals will be defeated. The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. How to defeat this theory? How it is possible?
Svarupa Damodara: By logic.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, by logic, by science. We have to make a program, because the entire human society is affected by this misleading theory. It is a fact that life comes from life. Of course, life does not come—it already exists. Matter is generated. Life exists eternally—it has no change. The change is in the outward, material body. In all respects we have to prove that life does not come from matter. Matter is generated from life, stays for some time, and then is finished. How long can scientists cheat people? One hundred years, two hundred years? They cannot cheat them for all time.
Svarupa Damodara: Cheating has been going on since time immemorial, so perhaps they think they can continue forever.
Srila Prabhupada: Not since time immemorial! Science has been cheating people for only the past two or three hundred years, not before that. For the last two hundred years they have been preaching that life comes from matter—not for thousands of years. And the cheating will be finished in another fifty years because people are becoming intelligent.
Please visit my website: www.youarethesoul.com and encourage everyone you meet to do the same, because by doing so they will find the logic that will convince them that “you are not the body.”
Thanking you.
Your servant,
Purnaprajna das (ACBSP)
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