Expert Devotees Discover Novel Ways and Means
Every human being is constantly confronted with the fundamental problems of material existence. To solve these problems, one must adopt the authorized ways and means provided by the Supreme Lord and His pure representatives. While fools and mental speculators invent temporary methods to find happiness, the true ācārya expertly discovers novel ways and means to present the timeless wisdom of the Vedic literature and deliver the conditioned souls.
The Folly of Manufactured Methods
Materialistic individuals and neophytes often reject authorized guidance, preferring to invent their own solutions to life's problems. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that such mental speculation is perpetually doomed to fail because human beings, possessing imperfect senses, cannot independently conquer the stringent laws of material nature.
- A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.
- Don't manufacture ways and means, falsely trying to lord it over. That will... You'll not be happy because you cannot lord it over the material nature. It is impossible.
- The neophytes, due to their being in the lower stage of devotional service, are invariably envious, so much so that they invent their own ways and means of devotional regulations without following the acaryas.
The Futility of Material Adjustments
Despite immense technological and economic advancement, modern civilization fails to cure the core miseries of life. People invent countless ways and means to satisfy their senses, yet they remain deeply unhappy because they ignore the soul's actual needs. Real civilization begins when humanity seeks the authorized path out of this material entanglement.
- Maharaja Pariksit used two important words: visanna and visesa-jna. Visanna means "morose." Materialistic people invent many ways and means to become fully satisfied, but actually they remain morose.
- Civilization means how to get out of this material miseries—birth, death, disease and old age. That is real advancement of civilization. If there is any way and means to get out of this problem, then we must adopt in this human form of life.
- My suggestion is that the leaders who actually agree as eternal servant of God may sit together and find out the ways and means of one religious system in this world.
The Expert Guidance of the Ācārya
The duty of a bona fide spiritual master is to practically engage his disciples in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. An ācārya does not rely on stereotyped formulas; instead, he expertly discovers novel ways and means to present the absolute truth according to the specific time, place, and circumstance, ensuring his disciples can successfully fix their minds on the Supreme Lord.
- An acarya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Krsna consciousness may be spread.
- It is the duty of the acarya, the spiritual master, to find the ways and means for his disciple to fix his mind on Krsna. That is the beginning of sadhana-bhakti.
- Expert devotees discover novel ways and means to convert the nondevotees.
The Ultimate Method for This Age
The Vedic scriptures, particularly the Bhagavad-gītā, outline the absolute path to liberation, welcoming all sincere souls. However, recognizing the degraded conditions of the current age of Kali, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has made this process incredibly accessible, establishing śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana as the supreme ways and means for global peace and prosperity.
- The ways and the means for ultimate realization, ultimate attainment, are stated in the Bhagavad-gita, and the doors of this knowledge are open for everyone. No one is barred out.
- In this age of Kali it is very difficult to adopt the yogic process mentioned in this verse (SB 4.23.17). Unless one is very expert in such yoga, the best course is to adopt the ways and means of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, sri-krsna-sankirtanam.
- The ways and means are most scientifically presented by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and intelligent persons may take advantage of His teachings in order to bring about real peace and prosperity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly distinguishes between the manufactured methods of conditioned souls and the authorized path of spiritual realization. While foolish materialists and neophytes continuously invent their own ways and means for happiness—only to remain perpetually frustrated and viṣaṇṇa (morose)—true civilization requires utilizing the human form of life to permanently escape the miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease. By taking shelter of an expert ācārya, who discovers novel and practical ways to engage everyone in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the soul can safely navigate the material energy. Ultimately, by accepting the scientific ways and means presented in scriptures like the Bhagavad-gītā and enthusiastically adopting the process of saṅkīrtana given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, any sincere individual can achieve the highest perfection of eternal peace and spiritual bliss.
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 Ways and Means. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.