Avoiding Death - The Ultimate Problem of Material Life
Every living entity inherently desires to live forever, yet the material world is designed as a place where everything is temporary and destined for destruction. Śrīla Prabhupāda relentlessly shatter the illusions of material security, exposing the absolute inevitability of our mortality. By confronting the reality of death head-on, Śrīla Prabhupāda guides us toward the only authentic process capable of granting the eternal life our souls desperately crave.
The Inevitability of Mortality
The fundamental law of material nature is that whatever is created must eventually be destroyed. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that no one is exempt from this rule. Whether one exercises diligently to build a strong body, acquires immense wealth, or even travels to the highest reaches of the universe, the cruel hand of death cannot be avoided.
- Eventually everyone will dry up and be thrown in the fire. That is a fact. We may survive for a few years, but we cannot avoid death. In fact, it is said, - As sure as death.
- Regardless of how strong or healthy one may be, one cannot avoid death. One may exercise on the beach daily, but one may die at any moment. There is no guarantee.
- Even if you go to the Brahmaloka, where one twelve hours means thousands of four yugas, but still there is death. So we cannot avoid this.
- To take birth in a nice place or a high family does not mean that one avoids undergoing the material tribulations, the pangs of birth, death, old age and disease.
The Futility of Material Solutions
Modern civilization invests billions of dollars into medical research and life-extension technologies, yet the ultimate outcome remains unchanged. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out the sheer foolishness of being proud of our material advancements or so-called independence. No scientific formula, cosmetic enhancement, or political power can negotiate with the superintendent of death, Yamarāja.
- Modern scientists try to avoid death by physiochemical advancement of knowledge, but alas, the controller of death, Yamaraja, is so cruel that he does not spare even the very life of the scientist himself.
- We try to remain young by cosmetic, but that is not possible. Similarly, we want to live forever. The lady doctor was, "Yes, we can extend little more." Then what? After all, you have to die. Extend little more or little less, you cannot avoid death.
- What is the value of your independence? Can you avoid death? Suppose you are independent. What is the meaning of this independence? When death will come, will catch you by your neck and throw you away, your independence.
- Because you are rich man, because you are beautiful man, because you are educated man, because you are born in a aristocratic family, that does not mean that you have avoided death, old age and disease.
The True Purpose of Vedic Culture
Instead of ignoring death, the Vedic civilization tackles the problem directly. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the entire framework of the Vedas is dedicated to solving the miseries of material existence. True scientific research consists of understanding the root cause of our mortality and actively working to permanently stop the cycle of birth and death.
- Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is stressing on the point how to avoid death. This is the whole scheme of Vedic knowledge, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam (Bhagavad-Gita 13.9). But people have no knowledge.
- Because death is a punishment imposed in the condemned life of material existence, the Vedic culture is based on avoiding death - tyaktva deham punar janma naiti - Bhagavad-Gita 4.9.
- One should know that he is suffering in birth, suffering in death, suffering in old age and suffering in disease, and one should be inquisitive as to how he may avoid the suffering. That is real research work.
- One should not become guru, one should not become kinsmen, one should not become father, one should not become mother - na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum - if one cannot give lesson to the children how to avoid death. This is the duty of the guardians.
The Spiritual Remedy
While the physical body must inevitably perish, the soul does not have to accept another one. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that the only guaranteed method to avoid the repetition of death is the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By fully absorbing the mind in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord and completing our spiritual duties in this life, we can transcend the laws of karma and return to the spiritual world.
- One has to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the perfection of life. That is the perfection. But they do not know how to stop this repetition, neither they do know that death can be avoided.
- Every human being dislikes meeting death, but he does not know how to get rid of death. The surest remedy for avoiding death is to accustom oneself to hearing the nectarean pastimes of the Lord.
- Those who are not in knowledge, they are afraid of death. Best business is, before the death comes let us finish our Krsna consciousness perfectly. That is wanted. Death will come. You cannot avoid it.
- A devotee is not under the laws of karma. Therefore even a devotee's scheduled death can be avoided by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord. God protects the devotee even from the extreme danger of death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, turning a blind eye to our mortality is the greatest illusion of material life. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches us that rather than engaging in the futile attempt to chemically prolong our physical bodies, we must focus our intelligence on the true goal of human life: avoiding the punishment of repeated death altogether. By embracing the Vedic wisdom and dedicating our lives to the loving service of the Supreme Lord, we can face the end of this body without fear, fully assured of an eternal, blissful life in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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 Avoiding Death. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.