Root Cause of Environmental & Economic Problems – A Spiritual Perspective

In today’s world, we face serious environmental issues like pollution, deforestation, and climate change, alongside economic problems such as inequality and poverty. These challenges stem not just from industrialization or economic structures but from a deeper spiritual void in our understanding of true happiness and fulfilment.

The Myth of Material Happiness

The idea that more material possessions equals more happiness has greatly influenced global economies. This belief isn’t new; it’s been actively promoted and embedded in our values over time. Edward Bernays, known as the father of public relations, played a key role in this change. In his important work, The Engineering of Consent, Bernays wrote, “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society.” By using advertising and public relations, Bernays shifted people’s focus to their own desires, making them crave more material things.

Bernays’ techniques had a significant impact on the American economy after World War II. He changed advertising from just showing what products do to emphasizing how they make people feel, turning luxury items into must-haves. For example, he promoted cigarettes to women as “torches of freedom,” making smoking a symbol of independence and boosting sales. Another example is the car industry. Ads suggested that owning a car meant personal freedom and high status, which led to more people buying cars, increased oil use, and more pollution.

These changes not only boosted consumer spending but also significantly shaped modern consumer culture. They illustrate how flashy marketing can transform luxuries into perceived necessities, encouraging people to constantly seek more, often at the expense of their own well-being and the environment.

The Consumer Culture and Its Impact

Many people today believe that happiness comes from buying more things, a mindset cultivated by years of advertising. The constant quest for possessing more leads to environmental damage, economic inequality, and widespread dissatisfaction within oneself.

Polluted beach in a fishing village in Vietnam, environmental pollution concept, Asia

Examples of Endless Consumption

Single-Use Plastics: Another concerning aspect of consumer culture is the widespread reliance on single-use plastics. Studies have shown that over 8 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year, posing a grave threat to marine life and ecosystems. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by weight if current trends continue. Much of this plastic pollution originates from everyday consumer products like water bottles, straws, and packaging.

Fast Fashion: The fast fashion industry is a clear example of how consumer culture drives unsustainable practices. Big brands produce new clothing collections at a rapid pace, encouraging people to buy more clothes than they need. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the average person buys 60% more clothing now than they did 15 years ago but keeps each item for only half as long. This results in massive amounts of textile waste. Moreover, the production of these clothes often involves poor working conditions and low wages in developing countries.

E-Waste: The rapid turnover of electronic devices in consumer culture has led to a surge in electronic waste (e-waste). According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2024, the world generated a record 62 million tons of e-waste in 2022, with only 22.3% of it being properly recycled. Improper disposal of e-waste poses significant environmental and health risks, as it often contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium.

Overconsumption of Resources: The relentless pursuit of material possessions and convenience drives the overconsumption of resources such as water, energy, and raw materials. This over-exploitation contributes to environmental degradation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. For example, the extraction of natural resources for the production of consumer goods often involves destructive practices like deforestation, mining, and drilling, leading to irreversible damage to ecosystems and landscapes.

Social Media Influences: Social media influences on overconsumption of resources have become increasingly evident in today’s digital age. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok play a significant role in shaping consumer behaviour and promoting materialistic ideals. As influencers and celebrities showcase their extravagant lifestyles, often characterized by excess consumption and luxury goods, they contribute to a culture of overindulgence and resource depletion. Research suggests that exposure to such content on social media can exacerbate tendencies towards compulsive buying and unsustainable consumption patterns, further increasing environmental concerns.

Food Waste: One striking example of the impact of consumer culture is food waste. Research conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimates that approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted globally each year. This wastage occurs at various stages of the supply chain, from farm to fork, and is often driven by consumer habits, such as overbuying and discarding perfectly edible food items.

In some societies, there’s a disturbing trend where individuals overindulge in food, only to induce vomiting and eat more in an attempt to experience happiness through the taste of different food items. Individuals may believe that indulging their taste buds with a variety of foods will fulfil their inner longing for peace and happiness. However, this behaviour doesn’t lead to genuine fulfilment. Instead, it often exacerbates feelings of emptiness and discontent, highlighting the deeper spiritual void that material indulgence alone cannot fill.

The Environmental & Social Impact of Economic Growth

Politicians and economists often say that a growing economy is a sign of success. They measure this growth in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the total value of goods and services produced in a country. But this focus on growth ignores the severe damage it causes to our environment and well-being. Here are some examples:

Environmental Degradation:

Our insatiable appetite for consumer goods has led to a surge in plastic production, resulting in widespread pollution of our oceans and ecosystems. This plastic not only harms marine life but also enters our food chain, posing health risks to humans. The increase in industrialization causes more air and water pollution.

Large areas of rainforest are cut down to make way for products like palm oil. The Amazon rainforest, often called the “lungs of the Earth,” is being destroyed at an alarming rate. Between August 2019 and July 2020, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon increased by 9.5%, leading to a loss of biodiversity and contributing to climate change.

Economic Disparities:

The pursuit of economic growth often benefits the wealthy more than the poor. According to Oxfam, the world’s richest 1% have more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people. This gap leads to social unrest and undermines social cohesion.

Young couple feeling stressed, and serious about financial problems of credit card debt and loan bills from shopping online

Many people and countries go into debt to sustain consumption. For instance, the average American household has a credit card debt of about $6,501. On a larger scale, developing countries often borrow money to invest in growth projects, leading to high national debts that are hard to repay.

Personal Dissatisfaction:

The constant push to buy more creates stress and anxiety. A study by the American Psychological Association found that materialism is linked to lower levels of well-being and higher rates of depression and anxiety.

People who work more to afford their lifestyle often have less time for social connections, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Greed vs. Need: The Planet in Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful reminder of humanity’s profound impact on the environment. As countries implemented strict lockdown measures to curb the spread of the virus, a remarkable transformation occurred in the natural world. With human activity significantly reduced, nature began to heal itself. Air quality improved, and rivers became clearer, offering a glimpse of what a world with reduced human interference could look like.

Vivid Examples from the Lockdown

Cities globally witnessed a notable reduction in air pollution levels during the lockdown. Landmarks like the Himalayas became visible from parts of India for the first time in decades, showcasing the substantial improvement in air quality due to decreased industrial and vehicular emissions.

Moreover, with factories shuttered and travel restrictions enforced, pollution levels in rivers and water bodies declined. The once-cloudy waters of Venice’s canals turned clear, allowing marine life to thrive once more.

Insights from the Lockdown:

During lockdowns, many people sought comfort from material things to cope with stress and uncertainty. Alcohol consumption surged, and internet usage reached unprecedented levels as people sought solace in online entertainment and shopping.

The spike in consumption during the lockdown period reflects a deeper issue of unfulfilled spiritual needs. Material possessions provide temporary relief but fail to address the underlying sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness that plagues many individuals.

Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring words, “Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed,” resonate profoundly in today’s world. Our insatiable thirst for material wealth and possessions drives the relentless exploitation of natural resources, pushing our planet to its limits and endangering the well-being of future generations.

The Urgent Need for Spiritual Transformation

Prominent environmentalists like Gus Speth have shifted their focus from scientific solutions to addressing fundamental human values. Speth realized that the primary environmental problems are not technical but ethical and spiritual. Selfishness, greed, and apathy are the true culprits behind biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change.

Selfishness, seen in the widespread “selfie” trend, leads to excessive consumption and harm to the environment. Greed, wanting more and more, supports economic systems that care more about profit than protecting nature. Apathy, not caring about how our actions affect others, lets these harmful behaviours continue.

Spirituality for True Happiness

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material wealth and worldly pleasures. However, the ultimate truth, as stated in ancient Vedic scriptures, reminds us that we are not merely physical beings; we are spiritual entities with deeper needs that must be addressed for true satisfaction and fulfilment.

World-renowned yoga spiritual master Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa quotes in his article named “The Solution to Global Economic & Environmental Problems“:

From the yoga perspective, while economic development is an absolute necessity, to seek economic development simply for the sake of endlessly increasing sensual pleasure is foolish.

No amount of sensual pleasure will ever really satisfy a person, so no amount of economic development will ever be considered ‘enough.’ No matter how much people have, no matter how much they consume, they always want more.

Understanding Spirituality and Our True Identity

Spirituality transcends the physical world; it is about connecting with the essence of life itself. According to the Bhagavad Gita, our true identity is that of eternal souls temporarily residing within these material bodies. Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita:

“As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.13

The many, many frames on a reel of movie film, when seen consecutively, appear as one picture on the screen,
although there are actually many different pictures. Similarly, we see a man as localized (above), but actually, his
body is changing every second. All this is happening without the notice of the viewer. However, the soul within the
heart (seen as a sparkling star) does not change; he remains eternally the same

Understanding this fundamental truth shifts our focus from external gratification to inner fulfilment. It helps us realize that we are not these temporary bodies but eternal spiritual beings.

What we truly long for isn’t fleeting pleasures or material wealth but profound inner peace. This realization deeply impacts how we interact with the world around us. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of inner satisfaction:

“A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.70

His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami writes in his commentary on this verse as follows:

“As long as one has the material body, the demands of the body for sense gratification will continue. The devotee, however, is not disturbed by such desires because of his fullness. A Krsna-conscious man is not in need of anything because the Lord fulfils all his material necessities. Therefore he is like the ocean—always full in himself. Desires may come to him like the waters of the rivers that flow into the ocean, but he is steady in his activities, and he is not even slightly disturbed by desires for sense gratification. That is the proof of a Krsna conscious man—one who has lost all inclinations for material sense gratification, although the desires are present. Because he remains satisfied in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he can remain steady, like the ocean, and therefore enjoy full peace.”

Experiencing Love on a Spiritual Plane

Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa further quotes in his article:

According to the yoga teachings, our nature is to love, and we are spiritual in essence. As such, we cannot be happy simply living for ourselves and trying to achieve happiness through endless consumption. By understanding that we are spiritual with a loving nature, we can simultaneously understand that we cannot ever achieve real happiness just by living for ourselves. We must awaken our spiritual love for the Supreme; and motivated by that love, work for the welfare of others and the planet. Such an attitude of selfless service brings satisfaction, actual happiness, and good to the world and ourselves.

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the great apostle of love of God and the father of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, emphasized that true fulfilment comes from experiencing love on a spiritual plane. This love transcends material desires and leads to the complete satisfaction of the soul. When we disregard guiding spiritual principles, we disconnect ourselves from genuine happiness and inner peace.

The Impact of Spiritual Fulfilment on the Environment and Economy

Inner satisfaction and spiritual fulfilment lead to a significant positive impact on both the environment and the economy. When people are content and at peace, they naturally consume less and live more sustainably. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us about self-restraint and living in harmony with nature:

“He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.”
Bhagavad Gita 6.17

Additionally, the Sri Ishopanishad highlights the need for seeing the divine presence in everything and living with a sense of stewardship:

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.”
Sri Ishopanishad, Mantra – 1

By embracing these principles, individuals contribute to reducing environmental degradation and economic disparities. They begin to see themselves as part of a larger ecosystem, where their actions have consequences on the world around them.

The Role of Spiritual Education

In addition to academic knowledge, integrating spiritual education into formal schooling systems is crucial for fostering a sense of compassion and sustainability from a young age. Teaching students about their spiritual nature and the interconnectedness of all life can instil values that promote a balanced and harmonious existence.

The Bhagavad Gita outlines the qualities of a true spiritualist, who is always happy and sees everyone with equal vision:

“A true yogi observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized man sees Me everywhere.”
Bhagavad Gita 6.29

Symptoms of a True Spiritualist

A true spiritualist is described in the Bhagavad Gita as someone who has transcended material desires and sees everyone with equal vision:

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state, he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”
Bhagavad Gita 18.54

Cultivating these qualities through education helps individuals transcend the desire for material exploitation and develop a sense of respect for all living entities and the planet.

Conclusion: Spiritual Solutions for a Sustainable Future

In conclusion, as we grow spiritually, we become better at taking care of the Earth and improving our economy. By learning to be happy with ourselves, we naturally start to care more about the environment and other living entities. If we teach these spiritual ideas in educational systems and practice them in our daily lives, we can create a society that values peace and sustainability. This will lead to a healthier planet and a fairer economy. When we embrace our spiritual side, we can live in balance with nature and with each other, making life more fulfilling for everyone.

In this article, I have drawn insights from the teachings of world-renowned yoga spiritual master Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa & Acharya Das, a respected teacher of Vedic and yogic philosophy, meditation and kirtan, and a practitioner of the transcendental science of Bhakti Yoga. The quotes from the Bhagavad Gita are taken from the book Bhagavad Gita As It Is authored by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa & Acharya Das are disciples of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami, coming in the disciplic succession known as the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Thank you for your time…

Understanding Karma vs Karma Yoga (With Examples)

Certainly! You might have come across the term ‘Karma’ while browsing social media, or perhaps you’ve heard or used it when witnessing someone facing life’s challenges. Many online resources offer explanations of what Karma and Karma Yoga mean, each presenting different viewpoints. Then how can we attain the perfect information regarding this? The perfect truth can only be known from the Supreme Person, Lord Krishna Himself. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna expounds on the meaning of Karma, its types and Karma Yoga.

In this article, we will delve deeper into these concepts, drawing insights from the teachings of world-renowned yoga spiritual master Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa & the author of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Jagad Guru is a disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami who comes in the disciplic succession known as the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.

What is Karma?

“Karma” is a Sanskrit word that means “action.” It refers to everything we do in our daily lives, whether good or bad—it’s all considered karma. Interestingly, every action we take sows a seed that will eventually grow into consequences for our future. If we do something positive or good for others, it usually leads to a favourable outcome. On the flip side, if our actions bring suffering to others, we will face difficulties or challenges.

As said by the Lord Jesus Christ in The Holy Bible:

“As you sow, so shall you reap”.

In a nutshell, the idea of karma teaches us that our actions shape our future experiences.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, there are three types of karma.

Karma – Fruitive Actions
Vikarma – Forbidden Actions
Akarma or Karma Yoga – Actions without Fruitive Reactions

Karma – Fruitive Actions:

Karma, or fruitive actions, involves performing actions with an intent to enjoy the outcome. It is also regarded as good karma. Individuals engage in pious activities or good karma, intending to enjoy the resulting benefits personally.

A woman giving food to a homeless beggar man sitting outdoors in the city.

For instance, consider someone who opens an organization to help people in need or feed the needy. If this act is performed with the desire for recognition, honour in society, or to get medals from the government, it is categorized as a fruitive action. The performer of such acts will experience heavenly delights after departing from the earthly realm, enjoying the fruits of their pious actions for a specific duration until their accumulated good karma is exhausted.

Heavenly planets, described in scriptures like Srimad Bhagav a tam, are depicted as realms abundant in material pleasures. In contrast to Earth, these planets offer greater material enjoyment and lesser material suffering. This perspective underscores the notion that engaging in welfare actions can lead to enjoyable outcomes not only in the present life but also in the future and realms beyond.

Vikarma – Forbidden Actions:

Vikarma, also known as Forbidden Actions or Bad Karma, includes actions that not only harm others but also bring negative consequences to the person doing them. These consequences can be so serious that the person will suffer in hellish realms. For example, if someone makes others suffer in this life, they will experience similar suffering in this life and even after death. It means they’ll go through a difficult time in a hellish dimension until they’ve paid for all their wrongdoings.

The thief threatened them with a knife, and the young woman was scared and screaming while arrested by a bandit.

Activities like stealing, plundering others’ properties, or killing a living entity for personal gain are considered bad karma. These actions cause significant suffering to the victims, and the wrongdoers will have to face legal consequences from the state administration. Even if they escape the state laws, the laws of nature, which are strict and unavoidable, will catch up with them. No one can avoid the consequences set by the laws of material nature. Individuals engaged in bad karma will experience suffering in hellish realms until they’ve balanced out their accumulated negative karma. These hellish planets are described in the ancient scripture – Srimad Bhagavatam, particularly in Canto 5, Chapter 26.

Whether we realize it or not, the outcomes of our actions, especially those causing pain to others, will eventually catch up with us. It’s like planting seeds of suffering that grow into thorns we must endure. Even if human laws don’t punish such actions, the laws of nature will undoubtedly hold us responsible. Therefore, it’s crucial to be mindful of our actions and their potential impact on others to avoid the pitfalls of Vikarma.

Before we come to know about “Akarma”, let us see how both Karma and Vikarma play a significant role in our lives.

Karma Guides the Eternal Cycle of Birth & Death

As we’ve explored the concepts of both good and bad karma, it might seem logical to always strive for pious actions. However, according to the wisdom of yoga, it recommends avoiding both good and bad karma because both contribute to reincarnation, which is the leading cause of suffering for all living entities. Consider good karma as credit and bad karma as debt. Each person accumulates a specific amount of debt or credit based on their actions in life.

More details about Karma & Reincarnation can be found in this enlightening video by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda.

Regardless of whether we perform good or bad karma, reactions accumulated from those are inevitable. We undergo various kinds of material pleasures and pains as per our actions. But these pains and pleasures only pertain to our material bodies. Our true identity is we are spirit souls residing inside these material bodies. Due to illusion, we identify ourselves with our bodies. In the present condition, we are inhabiting a body, undergoing specific pains and pleasures based on our past actions. This body, which we are presently using, feels pain and pleasure, but it’s essential to understand that we, the spirit soul, are distinct from it.

Position of Spirit Soul in the Material World

In the material world, the spirit soul is covered by two layers. The outer layer is the gross material body, comprised of five elements—Earth, water, air, fire, and sky. This body holds the five senses, through which the spirit soul experiences material pleasures and pains. Inside the gross material body, there’s a subtle body, which comprises the mind, false ego, and intelligence. The gross body acts as a tool for the spirit soul to engage in material sense gratification, while all desires and emotions are contained within the subtle material body.

The living being inhabiting the subtle body develops various desires for material enjoyment. However, the spirit soul isn’t alone in the subtle body. An expansion of the Supreme Person, known as Paramatma or Lord in the heart, resides alongside the spirit soul, constantly observing him. Picture two birds on a tree branch: one is experiencing the fruits of its past actions (Jiva Atma), and the other is simply watching (Paramatma).

The bird on the left is captivated by the fruits of the tree, while the friendly bird on the right acts as witness and waits for His friend to turn to Him.

Image Courtesy: https://asitis.com/

When someone dies, the soul departs from the gross material body but remains inside the subtle material body. Even after death, the person’s desires persist, which are observed by Paramatma. Subsequently, based on the individual’s karma and desires, Paramatma provides another material body to the spirit soul to fulfill its desires. This process perpetuates the cycle of birth and death.

Relation Between Karma & Material Bodies

The way karmic reactions work is that both supposed good and bad karma leads to the individuals taking on another material body. As long as stored karmic reactions are waiting, a person needs a material body for those reactions to experience. Whether the outcomes are positive or negative, a person needs a physical form (material body) to experience the results of their actions. Without a material body, the spirit soul cannot undergo karmic reactions.

Top section: On the left, a boy is dancing before the Deities of Radha-Krsna. The result of such devotional consciousness is shown on the right, where he is dancing with Krsna as a playmate in the Lord’s spiritual abode. Second section: On the left, a man is offering charity to a brahmana; on the right, he has taken the body of a demigod and is enjoying heavenly delights. Third section: A man is eating meat and other abominable foods; in his next life he is seen in the body of a hog who eats anything and everything. Bottom section: A man is approaching a woman with lust. This bestial consciousness carries him to a dog’s body.

Image Courtesy: https://asitis.com/

Those aiming to come out of the cycle of karma – want to avoid being reborn. They wish to skip the experiences linked to both good and bad actions. While many try to accumulate good karma, a wise person seeks freedom from all kinds of karmic reactions. This is because our material bodies inherently bring both pain and pleasure. As spirit souls, we crave eternal spiritual happiness. The joy we get from satisfying our senses doesn’t truly satisfy our souls. Since we are essentially spiritual beings, we need spiritual happiness to be really happy. However, currently, we are in these material bodies and get involved in various activities, regardless of their moral nature.

So, what is the right path to get out of this cycle of karma?

Inactivity Is Not Feasible

Some people might believe that if we stop doing everything and sit without taking any actions, we won’t face any consequences, and we can break free from the cycle of karma. However, the notion of stopping all activities to avoid karma and escape reincarnation is not practical or feasible.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:

Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from
reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of
the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing
something, not even for a moment.
Bhagavad Gita : 3.4 – 5

In these verses, Lord Krishna emphasizes that refraining from work or renouncing action alone is not a practical solution for escaping karmic reactions. The soul’s nature is inherently active, and complete inactivity is impossible as long as the soul resides within the body. The soul is perpetually active, and even a momentary cessation of activity is unattainable.

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, in his commentary on these verses, clarifies:

“It is not a question of embodied life, but it is the nature of the soul to
be always active. Without the presence of the spirit soul, the material body
cannot move. The body is only a dead vehicle to be worked by the spirit
soul, which is always active and cannot stop even for a moment.”

By nature, the spirit soul is active, and this perpetual activeness is intrinsic to the soul. As long as we exist in these physical bodies within the material world, we will inevitably keep performing actions. The question arises: If we can’t stop ourselves from doing actions, how can we truly break free from the cycle of karmic reactions? Here comes the 3rd type of Karma – “Akarma”.

Akarma or Karma Yoga – Actions without Fruitive Reactions

There is a way to break free from the cycle of karma and attain a state where there are no reactions to our actions. This is known as Akarma or Actions without Fruitive Reactions. If someone performs all their actions without a desire for personal pleasure but as an offering to the Supreme Person or God, they become free from all reactions to their actions. This practice is also referred to as ‘Karma Yoga‘.

‘Karma’ means action, and ‘Yoga’ means connection with God. Therefore, Karma Yoga means performing actions in connection with God. It is the only way to escape the cycle of karmic reactions. When a person does his duty out of love for the Supreme Lord and doesn’t desire to enjoy the results of his actions, that is called action in God Consciousness. In this approach, the person acknowledges that God is the ultimate enjoyer of everything. As a result, they carry out their responsibilities without attachment to the outcomes, dedicating whatever results they achieve to God. Through this process, one breaks free from the cycle of karmic reactions and situates oneself in the transcendental loving service to God.

While engaged in their prescribed duties, these four representatives of the four social orders (varnas) are thinking of Lord Krsna and offering Him the results of their work.

Image Courtesy: https://asitis.com/

In this regard, Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita:

The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge in the Lord, and free themselves from the cycle of birth and death by renouncing the fruits of action in the material world. In this way they can attain that state beyond all miseries.
Bhagavad Gita 2.51

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami writes in his commentary on this verse:

“Owing to ignorance, one does not know that this material world is a miserable place where there are dangers at every step. Out of ignorance only, less intelligent persons try to adjust to the situation by fruitive activities, thinking that resultant actions will make them happy. They do not know that no kind of material body anywhere within the universe can give life without miseries. The miseries of life, namely birth, death, old age and diseases, are present everywhere within the material world. But one who understands his real constitutional position as the eternal servitor of the Lord, and thus knows the position of the Personality of Godhead, engages himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Consequently he becomes qualified to enter into the Vaikuntha planets, where there is neither material, miserable life, nor the influence of time and death.”

In another verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna further explains how one can attain freedom from karmic reactions even while continuing to work in this material world.

Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work
binds one to this material world. Therefore, 0 son of Kunti, perform your
prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always
remain unattached and free from bondage.
Bhagavad Gita 3.9

So, one who works for the pleasure of God is never bound by the material laws, and he transcends the cycle of karmic reactions as a result, attains liberation from material bondage.

Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should
act as a matter of duty; for by working without attachment, one attains
the Supreme.
Bhagavad Gita 3.19

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami writes in his purports of this verse:

“A person, therefore, acting for Krishna, or in Krishna consciousness, under proper guidance and without attachment to the result of the work, is certainly making progress toward the supreme goal of life.”

One can get guidance on working for God without attachment from a bonafide spiritual master coming in a line of disciplic succession. If you want to know how to find a spiritual master, you can watch this video of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa. In this video, Jagad Guru clearly explains the characteristics of a bona-fide guru and how to find such a person.

If you have any further questions please ask in the comments. We will try to answer in future posts or in the comment section.

Thank you for your time!

Are You Prepared for Death? 

Picture this. You have not been feeling well for the past month, and you decide to go for a check-up. Your doctor tells you that you have a fast-moving fatal blood cancer, and you only have a month to live. How would you feel? Would you be in shock or denial, or angry? At any time, any one of us could get bad news from a doctor, telling us that we have only a short time to live. 

Most likely your mind would be racing as you’re overcome with fear and grief, for yourself, for your family, and for everything you stand to lose. “Why me?” you might ask. “This cannot be happening.” Panic and lamentation would set in as you lose all composure and realize, “I am not prepared for death.” 

Do any of us know what happens after death or how to prepare for the inevitable end that awaits us? 

For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:20

Nowhere else will you find such a clear explanation of death as in the yoga scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. While death is a reality, we will all face, we are not taught what it actually is and how to prepare for it. However, with proper knowledge and preparation, we can avoid the pain, suffering, and fear that usually accompanies the moment of death. 

As the embodied soul continually passes in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.  
Bhagavad-Gita 2:13

When the body is no longer able to function, due to an accident, disease, old age, or some other factor, the embodied soul must leave. Those who see a dead body and grieve the death of the person they loved are misidentifying the dead body as the person who has left. But the person they loved is an eternal being and can never die. They continue to exist after they leave the body. 

The person leaving the body also suffers greatly due to the illusion that they are dying. But it is only their body that is dying. If we identify our body as ourselves, and we do not know that we are an eternal living being, death is a very fearful experience. 

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:22 

In order to leave the body without grief and fear, we must become self-realized. And what is self-realization? It is understanding that we are an eternal living being, a spark of God, a child of God, away from our spiritual home, and temporarily within a material body. The body is not our true identity. 

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:25 

We are destined for rebirth in another material body unless we learn how to break free from the cycle of repeated birth and death. Liberation from this cycle is possible when we realize we are eternally connected to the Supreme Soul, in a loving relationship with Him. 

If you were told that in one week you will have to leave everything behind and move to a foreign country, with no chance of return, would you prepare? 

Moment by moment, the lifespan of your body is being reduced. Your body is going to die. Are you prepared to leave and to face what comes next? According to the yoga teachings, this life is meant for self-realization and for ending the cycle of birth and death. The practice of bhakti yoga offers a direct and practical path to self-realization – a path that is available to everyone. 

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About Author:

Sahadeva Das is an initiated disciple of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa who comes in a long line of bona fide yoga spiritual masters. Sahadeva Das considers it his great fortune in life to have heard and learned from a self-realized soul and is humbly attempting to pass on what he has received.

Law Of Karma

Karma refers to action. I am always engaging in some form of mental or physical action under the rules of the law of karma:

What influences me to act?
What are the unseen results of my actions?

I always prefer and desire good results, but do I achieve them? Do I always make the right decision and act in such a way to achieve my desired goal? Do I fail and suffer even when I try so hard not to? Have I ever experienced unexpected happiness or good fortune or success which I could not see coming or explain?

I was thrown into the material world and placed within a material body when envy caused my eternal existence to be forgotten, covered by ignorance. Because of enviousness of God, I desire to become a controller and the material world is my destiny for acting out this fantasy. Each decision I make, each action I take, prolongs my stay in the illusory material dimension within a body made of matter.

Each body I am placed into is the result of my karma or actions in previous lives. This body is a reaction or result of my accumulated karma (actions). Those actions include creating attachments and desires which form my consciousness. If I act like an animal, I receive an animal body. If I use my body in higher pursuits, I may receive another human form or perhaps a demigod body in a higher planet.

Reincarnation is the result of karma, my actions determine my consciousness, and my consciousness determines the species I am born into.

Each and every action (karma) that I engage in, results in a good or bad reaction in my future life (karmic reaction). I am the cause of all things good or bad that I experience in my life. I have utilized my body and senses, including my mind, to initiate and carry out action. All responsibility for what happens to me is mine alone, it is not God’s fault. My actions destine my life.

I cannot claim that God has decided to make me suffer or enjoy. God is impartial and destines my actions, caused by my desires, and the results of those actions. He is simply the witness and facilitator of every action I take and the resulting reaction.

To obtain fulfillment of my desires, I must act. To act within the material world, the laws of material nature and the illusory energy of the Supreme Controller are employed to create the situation in which I can act to fulfill my desires in conjunction with the desires of all other conditioned living beings. My current action may be the reaction to a previous life’s action or the result of a new desire I created.

By using my mind’s actions of thinking, feeling, and willing, I create a vast network of desires which are fulfilled by the permission and will of the Supreme Controller who sanctions all the actions necessary to attain the goals of those desires.

The attainment of my mind’s desires involves sinful and pious activities which yield future pain or pleasure. In other words, whatever I do forces me to accept future pain or pleasure as a result. The action is called karma and the future result is karmic reaction. I have no control over karmic reactions which I am forced to suffer or enjoy. I have no desire to suffer, and yet, I suffer in so many different ways. I may desire to be wealthy, beautiful, or famous, but I am not.

The law of karma is perfect, exact, and just, administered by the infallible energy of the Supreme Lord.

Karmic reaction forms the web of material life, trapping and controlling me eternally, as I transmigrate from body to body. This cycle of birth and death continues without end and cannot be broken or defeated by material means. All materially motivated actions and reaction ends in suffering within the material dimension.

I believe I am free and independent even though I am forced to accept pain and pleasure, forced to accept birth and death, forced to be punished and rewarded by the law of karma.

The law of karma is the law of material action and the subsequent reaction within the material dimension and forces me to journey throughout the universe, turning on the infinite wheel of birth and death. There is no possibility that I can stop this wheel of samskara on my own.

The path of Bhakti-yoga pardons me from the law of karma and relieves me from all the different forces completely shackling me within the material world of duality. Bhakti -yoga is the pinnacle of yoga processes and directly links me with the spiritual, transcendental world.

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I Can Not Find Truth on My Own 

There are some important questions we should all ask at some point. Who am I? What is the purpose of life? Does God exist? What happens at death? Where did I come from? Why is there suffering?

But where can I find definitive answers to these questions?

Google has become the default source of information for most people despite the overwhelming amount of material that comes up in answers to their searches. But so much of the information is incomplete or misleading. If I Google “Who am I?” I got 65 million results. “The purpose of life” returns over 330 million results, while a search on “God” or “death” returns over 2 billion results. I could give up and say that ignorance is bliss, but I want to know the truth.

Maybe the answer is somewhere in the world of Google, hidden among the billions of results. But if I do not know the truth, how will I recognize it, even if I had time to read them all? I may accept that real knowledge and truth do exist, but how do I go about accessing them? Where do I go? Who do I ask?

In the Bhagavad-Gita we are told: 

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.
Bhagavad-Gita 4:34

How do I find such a self-realized soul? It is said, “By the grace of God, one gets guru, and by the grace of guru one gets God.” If I sincerely approach the Supreme Person and ask for His help, He will bring me into contact with His transcendental representative. 

I experienced this truth in my own life. In 1971, I was living on the bay fronting Sausalito, on a thirty-five-foot steel lifeboat that had been converted into a houseboat. It was a very cold winter, and the boat was like an icebox. I had left behind college and my four-year scholarship and was searching for the Absolute Truth.

One night, I approached God in sincere prayer, asking Him to lead me to someone who knew Him. Within three months, I met Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda, a self-realized soul who comes in a long line of bonafide spiritual masters. 

I can approach God through sincere communication of any type, silently within my mind, out loud, or in writing. He is present everywhere, including in my own heart. He knows my thoughts, desires, and secrets, and is the witness of all my activities. I do not even have to be convinced that He is real. I can simply ask, “Please let me know You.”  

The Supreme Person is my best friend and eternal well-wisher and is happy to answer my sincere plea. He arranges my life and places opportunities before me, so I can progress on the path of self-realization and God-realization if that is what I want. The truth then will appear to me, in what may seem like random events, such as my meeting with Jagad Guru all those years ago. I will also be given the ability to recognize the truth as it appears.

The Supreme Lord says, “Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge, the darkness born of ignorance.
Bhagavad-Gita 10:11 

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About Author:

Sahadeva das is an initiated disciple of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda who comes in a long line of bona fide yoga spiritual masters. Sahadeva das considers it his great fortune in life to have heard and learned from a self-realized soul and is humbly attempting to pass on what he has received.

Living in the Material World

I am a spiritual person living in this material universe on planet earth. Everything that I touch, see, hear, smell, think, and otherwise experience here is made of material energy. The Vedic yoga literature describes this material energy as consisting of five basic gross elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether, or space, and three subtle elements: mind, intelligence, and false ego. I am not made of material energy, but my body is. It is a combination of the gross and subtle elements.

Scientists have identified many different atomic elements and particles in their attempts to explain the universe, but they are still scratching the surface in developing a full understanding of material energy. The general view of the scientific community is that matter is the only energy that exists. However, the Vedic understanding is that there is another energy, the energy of life, and that is the life-force in all bodies that animates and brings life to matter. Beyond the universe of matter is the universe made of spiritual energy. I am a spiritual being who belongs in that spiritual universe.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AhuWY65ePIw%3Flist%3DPL16gS2IDwahb9GfuIBtkoe_RgELhe08R7

What do I experience here in the material world? I am an eternal spiritual being, but I experience death. I am full of knowledge, but I experience ignorance. I am joyful by nature, but I suffer misery. I crave loving relationships and friendship, but they always end in sadness. I am frustrated in so many ways.

One major example of this frustration is time, which measures out my life in this body, and ultimately destroys it, along with everything in the material world. Even the most apparently strong constructions are broken down by time. An enormous ocean-going liner or a powerful locomotive last only thirty something years before they must be scrapped. Time is a mysterious thing. When I need more time, it seems to speed up, when I am bored or waiting in anticipation it seems to slow down. Time frustrates and then ends all my experiences.

I remember sitting in a classroom when I was 10, just looking at my classmates and wondering what we all were. I was looking at their bodies but feeling that there was more to the person than that. Earlier in my life, my stepsister had drowned in the community pool, and we went to the funeral home to see her body in the casket. When I touched her body, it was cold. I knew she was gone, and that the body lying there was not her. When she was present in her body it was attractive, but her dead body was not. What had made it attractive in the past was her presence as a living being, animating her body. It is the presence of a living being that animates the bodies of all creatures in this world.

According to the Vedas this animating force, the living being, is eternal, never dying.

Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable, and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:18 

For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying, and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:20

Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.
Bhagavad-Gita 2:17

Although I am eternal, I am covered by illusion that blocks any recollection of my eternal existence. This illusion also makes me believe I am this body, and that I can find happiness by making my body happy. This illusion masks the suffering of life in a temporary body; it cheats me into imagining the material world exists for my pleasure. Like a master magician, an illusionist, it hides the truth from me. I have amnesia and do not even know who I am or why I am here.

But I can come out from under the darkness of illusion. Enlightenment is attainable. I can come to know and experience my true, eternal nature, even while living within a material body in the material world. I can come to realize that the temporary pleasures of the body are not truly fulfilling. And I can begin to inquire about the higher purpose of my existence.

If I understand that I am only temporarily in this body, then I will see that attaining wealth, fame, high position, friendships, and wonderful family do not give me any lasting happiness or fulfillment. When my time runs out, I must leave everything material behind. But there is a world beyond the decaying world of time, birth, disease, old age, and death. My essence is spiritual, and my ultimate eternal home is in the world of spiritual energy.

How do I travel there? There is a process described in the Vedas as being both the easiest and the most sublime method to transcend this world of matter. It is the process of meditation on transcendental sound, mantra, and this allows me to enter that spiritual world even while still in a physical body.

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About Author:

Sahadeva das is an initiated disciple of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa who comes in a long line of bona fide yoga spiritual masters. Sahadeva das considers it his great fortune in life to have heard and learned from a self-realized soul and is humbly attempting to pass on what he has received.