Always Planning - The Difference Between Material and Spiritual Endeavors
It is the nature of the living entity to be active and intelligent. Therefore, the mind is constantly engaged in creating schemes, strategies, and visions for the future. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we cannot artificially stop the mind from generating ideas. The true art of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is learning how to purify the mind so that instead of always planning for temporary material gratification, we are always planning for the eternal spiritual benefit of ourselves and others.
The Compassionate Plans of a Vaiṣṇava
Because a pure devotee has surrendered everything to Kṛṣṇa, they have no personal anxieties regarding their own maintenance or future. However, this does not mean their mind is inactive. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a Vaiṣṇava is deeply compassionate. Because they see the suffering of the world, their intelligence is always planning how to execute the mission of the Lord and bring the fallen souls back to Godhead.
- Because a Vaisnava fully takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he personally has no problems, but because he is compassionate toward the fallen, conditioned souls, he is always thinking of plans to save them from their hellish life.
- A Vaisnava is always thinking about how the fallen conditioned souls can be delivered and is always involved in making plans to do so.
- A Krsna conscious being is always engaged in planning how to take all of suffering humanity back home, back to Godhead.
- A person who is always engaged in the service of the Lord or is always thinking and planning how to serve the Lord is to be considered completely liberated at present and in the future. His going home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed.
The Illusion of Material Planning
In stark contrast to the selfless Vaiṣṇava, the materially conditioned soul uses their intelligence solely for their own body and extended family. Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that under the spell of illusion, people spend their entire lives always planning how to secure greater material happiness, completely ignoring the fact that the material world is inherently temporary and miserable.
- The conditioned soul is always engaged in laying out plans for happiness within the material world, even up to the end of the universal limit.
- The eleven commanders represent the ten senses and the mind. The mind is always making plans with the ten commanders to enjoy the material world.
- The appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this Kali-yuga is especially meant to deliver the fallen souls, who are always planning something for material enjoyment.
- Unfortunate men of this age are always reluctant to give a reception to the transcendentalists who are representatives of Srila Vyasadeva and selfless workers always busy in planning something which may help everyone in all statuses and orders of life.
Demoniac and Mischievous Plans
When the desire for material enjoyment becomes extreme, it transforms into envy and malice. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that demoniac individuals are never satisfied with their own possessions. They are always planning how to increase their wealth and power, even if it means harming others or usurping the position of their superiors. This malicious mindset completely blocks them from understanding spiritual truth.
- He (the demoniac man) is enamoured by the possessions he has already, such as land, family, house and bank balance, and he is always planning to improve them.
- In the material world, a servant is provided for by the master but is always planning how to capture the master's post. There have been many instances of this in history.
- They (miscreants) are always planning something mischievous. They are the lowest of mankind because they do not believe in God. Why? Their knowledge has been plundered by the influence of the material energy.
- Persons who are always planning to do harm to other living entities are not eligible to understand Krsna consciousness and cannot enter into the realm of transcendental loving service to the Lord.
Depending on Kṛṣṇa Amidst Malicious Plans
The Vedic histories are filled with examples of innocent devotees being targeted by the wicked plans of powerful materialists. Śrīla Prabhupāda points to the envious Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the demonic Kaṁsa, who were always planning to kill the Lord's pure devotees. However, the devotees remained perfectly protected because they did not rely on their own counter-plans; they depended entirely on the supreme plan of Kṛṣṇa.
- Kamsa, being an asura, was always planning how to kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His mother, Devaki. Thus he was also Krsna conscious. But devotees are Krsna conscious favorably - visnu-bhaktah smrto daivah.
- Their (the Pandavas) materialistic uncle Dhrtarastra was always planning to kill them and usurp the kingdom for his own sons. That was his policy from the very beginning.
- Inside herself, Kunti felt like a she-deer in the midst of tigers, actually her position was like that. After the death of her husband, Pandu, she was supposed to take care of the pandavas, but the sons of Dhrtarastra were always planning to kill them.
- We must depend on Krsna, like Devaki and Kunti. After Kunti became a widow, the envious Dhrtarastra was always planning ways to kill her sons, the five Pandavas.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings urge us to elevate the function of our intelligence. Instead of wasting our mental energy always planning for a material future that is destined to end in death, we should dedicate our thoughts to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. By actively planning how to serve the Lord and assist others on the spiritual path, our minds become fully purified, and our return back to Godhead is guaranteed.
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 Always Planning. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.