The Desire to Lord It Over Nature is the Real Disease
Modern society attempts to cure a vast array of problems through politics, philanthropy, and medical science, yet the world remains full of anxiety. The actual root of the problem, as Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly diagnoses, is a spiritual illness buried deep within the heart of the conditioned soul. By addressing this fundamental desire to enjoy independently of the Supreme Lord, we can finally eradicate all material miseries.
The Root of Material Existence
The entire material creation is designed as a correctional facility for souls who have forgotten their relationship with God. The fundamental sickness of the living entity, which Śrīla Prabhupāda exposes without compromise, is the rebellious mentality to lord it over material nature. As long as this forgetfulness of the Supreme Lord persists, true peace will remain impossible.
- The real disease is that he has forgotten Krsna. That's all. Otherwise, there is no scarcity in the world.
- The real disease, as we have already explained, is to lord it over the material nature.
- The real disease is, when we forget Krsna and want to lord it over the material nature, this is called maya.
- The leaders must know that the real disease of the people in general is their aversion to serve the almighty Godhead, Visnu.
The Desire for Sense Gratification
People often proudly identify with various political and social movements, thinking they hold the solution to the world's problems. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda acutely observes that regardless of the "ism" one adopts, the underlying disease of wanting to exploit the world for personal sense gratification remains exactly the same. Uncontrolled senses continually drag the living entity down into darker regions of ignorance.
- Either you become Communist, Socialist or Capitalist or this "ist" or that "ist," the real disease is bhoga-vancha.
- How I shall enjoy this world - That is the real disease.
- Real disease is adanta go, uncontrolled senses. Visatam tamisram, entering into the darkest region of material existence. Punah punas carvita carvananam, chewing the chewed, again and again, the same sense gratification.
- Krsna recommends amanitvam, humility. Because the real disease of material life is that he is not humble. He is always proud.
The Cycle of Birth and Death
Mundane welfare workers open hospitals and schools, but they fail to address the ultimate sufferings forced upon the material body. The greatest tragedy, as Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies, is that souls are repeatedly forced to undergo the miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease. Until society learns how to stop this vicious cycle, all other philanthropic activities are ultimately useless.
- This is our real disease, repetition of birth, janma, and repetition of death.
- This is our real disease, to take birth, to die, to become old and to become victims of disease. But nobody knows how to cure this.
- The real disease is the material condition, in which we have to suffer birth, death, disease and old age.
- People are very much so-called philanthropist. They open hospitals, schools and other things, but actually, they do not know what is the real disease of the human being.
Curing the Disease in the Heart
Because the disease is spiritual in nature, it requires a potent spiritual remedy. The medicine prescribed by Śrīla Prabhupāda is the chanting of the holy names and the awakening of pure consciousness within the heart. When the heart is cleansed of lusty desires and anxiety, the soul is restored to its original, healthy condition.
- The real disease is within our heart. We have got a disease, heart disease. What is that? Kama, lusty desires.
- The real disease can be cured here by Krsna consciousness movement. I am eternal servant of Krsna. Everything belongs to Krsna.
- The real disease is in the heart. If the mind is cleansed, however, if consciousness is cleansed, a person cannot be harmed by the material disease.
- Unless you treat the spiritual disease of the human society, then the problems will increase. It will be never be solved. The real disease is spiritual disease.
Conclusion
As long as we identify with the temporary material body and try to extract happiness from the material world, we will remain plagued by anxiety and suffering. The unparalleled contribution of Śrīla Prabhupāda is that he provided the exact spiritual medicine required to cure this disease at its root. By taking up the process of bhakti-yoga, the heart is cleansed, the desire to lord over nature is vanquished, and the soul returns to its natural state of eternal 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 Real Disease. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.