Krishna Consciousness and Material Misery

The Material World is an Ocean of Misery

• The material world is a place of danger, but those who are training in Krishna consciousness and preparing to go back to Godhead are not bothered by its dangers.
• The material world is likened to a great ocean of misery, an ocean of birth and death.
• To cross this ocean, a strong boat is needed and that boat is the lotus feet of Krishna.
• The entire universe is resting on Krishna's leg, and taking shelter of His feet makes the material universe insignificant.
• True freedom from miseries is achieved through yoga, which controls the senses.

Krishna Consciousness is the Path to Freedom

• A devotee of Krishna never perishes.
• Taking shelter of Krishna is like turning off the switch to our karmic activities, which may still revolve, but quickly diminish.
• Those who take to Krishna consciousness automatically become good, possessing all good qualities.
• Those devoid of Krishna consciousness are prone to committing mischief.
• Those who know the transcendental nature of Krishna's appearance and activities do not take birth again in this material world.

The Purpose of Krishna's Incarnation

• Krishna comes with a mission and performs specific activities.
• We must accept the teachings of Bhagavad Gita as scripture, otherwise there is no reason to read it.
• Krishna's activities, like being Arjuna's chariot driver on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, demonstrate His involvement in the material world.

The Body is Temporary, the Soul is Eternal

• The body is constantly changing, moving from childhood to youth to old age, and ultimately undergoing the ultimate change at death.
• Although the body changes, the soul within remains the same.
• According to the Padma Purana, there are 8,400,000 species of life, which living entities take on at death, depending on their activities.
• Only those who understand the birth and activities of Krishna in truth are freed from this cycle of transmigration.

Surrender to Krishna is the Way

• Understanding Krishna in truth requires devotional service.
• Surrendering to Krishna is like a son surrendering to his father, natural and easy, with no fear of insult.
• By surrendering to Krishna, we come under His protection and are relieved from all miseries.
• Abandoning all other religions and surrendering to Krishna will deliver us from sinful reactions.

The Benefits of Krishna Consciousness

• Those who surrender to Krishna have no cause for fear.
• So-called advancement of civilization in knowledge is causing the population to become more mad.
• People who are not Krishna conscious are prone to suffering from the threefold miseries due to material nature, even when they think they have conquered it.
• Those who are seeking God, regardless of their approach, are considered pious.

The Best Approach to God

• The best qualified person is one who is philosophically trying to understand God and become Krishna conscious.
• Such a person is dear to Krishna because their only business is understanding God.
• The wise man does not pray for relief from material miseries but instead prays to glorify God and inform others how great He is.
• A pure devotee sees suffering as a means of rectification and accepts it with a peaceful attitude.
• A Krishna conscious person does not care for material distress, insult or honor, knowing that these pertain to the body and not the soul.

Don't be Deceived by Maya

• Those who understand they are not the body are not disturbed by death, as they know the soul cannot be captured, tortured, killed, or buried.

Explore the teachings of Krishna consciousness and its perspective on the material world. This quiz delves into the concepts of suffering, the significance of Krishna's protection, and the transformative power of yoga. Discover how sheltering in Krishna's feet can lead to true freedom from material woes.