Discovering the Real Value of Life
In the rush of modern civilization, individuals are deeply absorbed in accumulating wealth and prestige, completely forgetting the impending reality of death. To rectify this dangerous oversight, Śrīla Prabhupāda redirects our attention toward the eternal soul, distinguishing what is temporary from what is everlasting. By understanding the true purpose of the human form, we can invest our energy into spiritual practices that yield eternal results.
The Illusion of Material Values
The world is gripped by a feverish pursuit of temporary designations and possessions. It is firmly stated by Śrīla Prabhupāda that identifying with land, nation, or bodily relationships is a symptom of profound ignorance. Because all these things are devoured by the time factor, they possess no permanent significance.
- No one is really interested in the real values of life. The sleeping condition, called kala-sarpa (the time factor), keeps the conditioned soul in a state of ignorance, and therefore pure consciousness is lost.
- So unless you come to Krsna consciousness, this so-called nationalism, philanthropism, altruism, this "ism" - that is all rascaldom. It has no value. Real value is here: mahatma, vimanyavah, sadhavah, suhrdah.
- The entire world is bewildered because people are thinking, "This is my land," "America is mine," "India is mine." Not knowing the real value of life, people think that the material body and the land where it is produced are all in all.
- The less intelligent do not know the real value of the human form of life. The human form is a special gift of material nature in the course of her enforcing stringent laws of miseries upon the living being.
The Value of Human Life
Taking birth in a human body is an incredibly rare and auspicious event in the evolutionary journey of the soul. Through his compassionate teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that human intelligence is specifically designed for inquiring into the Absolute Truth. When a person becomes frustrated with material endeavors and begins this spiritual inquiry, their life becomes truly valuable.
- Our real value of life, human being, means spiritual understanding. This is... This human life is meant for spiritual understanding.
- Real value is to understand atma-tattvam, "What I am? Why death is imposed upon me? I do not wish to die.
- This human form of life or above human form of life, it is a chance for understanding the real value of life, and therefore for human beings there are guidances, these Vedas, Puranas, Vedanta-sutra.
- When one actually reaches the platform of frustration in an attempt to discharge karma-bandha-phansa, he inquires about the real value of life, which is called brahma jijnasa.
Love and Devotion
In the realm of bhakti, the Supreme Lord does not measure an offering by its monetary cost or material opulence. As explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda, Kṛṣṇa is self-sufficient; what He actually accepts is the sentiment behind the offering. A simple flower offered with pure devotion holds infinitely more weight than a grand display devoid of love.
- A pure devotee of the Lord like King Kulasekhara does not pray to God for material wealth, followers, a beautiful wife, or any such imitation peacocks, for he knows the real value of such things.
- What is the essence? What is the value of flower? Value, there is practically no value. But yo me bhaktya prayacchati. The real value is that the flower is offered with devotion, the food is offered with devotion.
- Yo me bhaktya prayacchati. The real thing is love. Patram puspam is no value. Or luci puri is no value. The real value is love.
Spreading the Real Value
A devotee who has realized the ultimate truth naturally desires to share it with others. Throughout his unprecedented mission, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that distributing transcendental literature is the most effective way to elevate society. Attracting even one sincere soul to the practice of chanting brings immense, permanent benefit to the world.
- Now our this Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is the topmost selling book in London. All the booksellers, Bhagavad-gita. So Macmillan Company is our publisher, and within one year they have published three editions, fifty thousand each. So real thing will have real value.
- We are not interested to attract millions of men to see some show. Better we attract one sincere soul to join us in ecstatic chanting and hearing, that will be of real value. And distribute books, as many as possible.
Conclusion
To live a life of profound consequence, we must evaluate our actions through the lens of eternity. Through his vast literary legacy, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminds us that spiritual realization is the only asset that transcends death. By rendering loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord, we attain the supreme destination and capture the ultimate value of our existence.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Real Value. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.