Engaging the Energy of a Young Man in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the phase of being a young man as a critical juncture in the material body's journey, filled with strong physical drives and vast potential. While mundane society exploits this energy for temporary sense gratification, utilizing youthful vitality for the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement provides the ultimate solution to life's problems and perfectly aligns with the eternal, youthful nature of the Supreme Lord.
The Eternal Youth of the Supreme Lord
Although ordinary living entities are forced by time to transition from a young man to an old man, the Supreme Lord never ages. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the oldest of all, yet He eternally maintains the fresh, captivating form of a young man, known as nava-yauvana.
- The Supreme Lord, Personality of Godhead, is the oldest of all, but whenever you'll find, you'll find just like a young man. Adyam purana purusam nava-yauvanam ca. Nava-yauvanam means just a fresh youth.
- Just like Krsna is adi-purusa, the original person. Still, you'll find Krsna always a young man of sixteen to twenty years' age. You'll never find Krsna's picture as old. Nava-yauvana. Krsna is always nava-yauvana.
- At the time of the Battle of Kuruksetra, He (Krsna) had many grandchildren at home; or, in other words, He had sufficiently aged by material calculations. Still He looked just like a young man twenty or twenty-five years old.
The Challenges of a Young Man
The material body of a young man is naturally subjected to severe agitation from the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that without the strict regulations of Vedic culture, the intense drive for sense gratification and the attraction between the sexes easily lead young men into sinful and degraded lifestyles.
- A young boy sees another young man or a young man sees another young girl. Natural sex appetite, natural. But one who can control that, that is dhirah. That is dhirah. Dhiras tatra na muhyati. That is yoga practice.
- The sex impulse is so strong that even if one is very learned, he becomes agitated in such circumstances. If this is the case, how can a young man in a nice park remain calm and quiet after seeing a beautiful young woman.
- In the Western countries it is very usual thing - a young man is embracing another young woman or kissing. So there is no fault. But according to Vedic civilization, this is fault because it will give chance to others.
The Illusion of Delaying Spiritual Life
Due to the intoxicating energy of youth, a young man often falsely believes he will remain young forever and plans to take up spiritual life only in old age. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against this foolishness, stressing that the body is constantly changing (dehāntara) and death can strike at any moment.
- Just like somebody believes or not believes in dehantara, but nature's course will go on. Young man thinks "I'll remain young. I shall not become old man." He may believe like that, but he has to become old man.
- The small child, is dancing. Now, that child will get the body of a young man like you. Everyone knows it. This body will change. Where is the difficulty?
- I am now young man, let me enjoy. And in old age, after passing sixty years, when there will be no other engagement, at that time I shall chant Hare Krsna mantra. - No. Immediately, turnam yate.
Transforming Youth Through Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
The immense vitality of a young man achieves its true perfection when channeled into the service of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda expresses great pride in the thousands of young men who have given up sinful activities to seriously join the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, becoming empowered leaders and pure preachers.
- By giving up sinful activity - illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling - and strictly following the injunctions given by the spiritual master, they (young men and women) have become purified of all contamination.
- Fortunately, however, the Hare Krsna movement has come to America, and many fortunate young men are giving serious attention to this movement, which is creating ideal men of first-class character.
- By the grace of God, Krsna, you are leaders. Thousands of young men follow you. They like you. So if you give them something actually nice, the face of the world will change.
- We require the help of many, many young men like you to understand this philosophy thoroughly and preach this movement in an organized way all over the world.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully contrasts the eternal, blissful youth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa with the temporary, highly agitated stage of a young man in the material world. While the physical energy and sensual demands of youth often drag an unprotected person into deep illusion and degradation, genuine Vedic culture provides the training to elevate a young man to the platform of a dhīra—one who is sober and undisturbed. Rather than squandering their prime years in fleeting sense gratification or mistakenly delaying spiritual life until old age, young men are urged to immediately surrender to the Supreme Lord. By voluntarily accepting the discipline of bhakti-yoga, modern young men transform their natural vitality into a powerful force for global spiritual awakening, becoming the glorious vanguard of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
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 Young Man. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.