The Material Body Exists Only for a Certain Period
Everything situated within the material world, from the vast cosmic universe down to the microscopic physical body, is entirely temporary and subject to destruction. Repeatedly driving this reality home, Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs us that human life is completely wasted if it is spent building empires in a place destined for annihilation. We must therefore awaken to our eternal spiritual identity and utilize this brief earthly window to break free from the painful cycle of repeated birth and death.
The Fleeting Nature of the Cosmic Creation
No matter how advanced human technology becomes, it is impossible to establish a permanent residence within the material universe. Breaking down this illusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the entire cosmic manifestation functions strictly according to the will of the Supreme Lord. It is generated at a specific time, maintained for a fleeting moment, and inevitably crushed into nonexistence, taking all materialistic plans along with it.
- Any amount of materialistic adjustment for becoming happy in a place which is meant for distress cannot benefit the misguided man because, after all, the whole universe with all its paraphernalia will come to an end after a certain period.
- The manifested cosmic creation is created at a certain period by the will of the Lord, is maintained for some time and is finally annihilated by His will. Thus He is the supreme will behind all activities.
- The manifested cosmic nature is created at a certain period by the will of the Lord. It is maintained for some time, and then it is annihilated by His will. Therefore, the supreme will is behind all cosmic activities.
- They (Nitya-baddhas) go on merrily with plans, but by the will of the Lord both the planmakers and the plans are annihilated at the end of a certain period, as above mentioned.
The Cycle of Physical Encagement
The eternal spirit soul is completely distinct from the biological machine it temporarily inhabits. Highlighting the tragedy of material existence, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the living entity undergoes immense suffering within the womb, only to emerge, sustain the body for a few decades, and face the agonizing process of death. This cycle of physical encagement continues endlessly until the soul finally awakens to pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- We have got this body produced, or born, at a certain date. It keeps, sustains, for a certain period - say fifty years, sixty years or a hundred years, utmost - and then again it is destroyed.
- We shall not live forever with this body. The animals also, they'll also not live forever. The body will be finished after certain period of time.
- Before taking birth, he (conditioned life person) undergoes the miseries of living in the womb of his mother, and when he comes out he lives for a certain period and then again has to die and enter a mother's womb.
- After a certain period its (antimaterial particle) encagement by material particles is annihilated. This same principle also operates in the case of the material and antimaterial worlds.
False Designations and Animalistic Habits
When a human being forgets their spiritual identity, they falsely proudly adopt titles based on their temporary physical form. Stripping away this vanity, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that without the restriction of religious principles, a human being is actually worse than a street animal. While animals restrict their mating to specific seasons, an unrestricted human being engages in sense gratification constantly, deepening their material bondage.
- The animal also thinks, "I am dog," "I am tiger," or similarly, if I think, "I am Mr. Such-and-such," "I am president," "I am this or that," you are none of these, sir. These are all designation, temporary, for a certain period, ten years, five years.
- Cats and dogs have sexual desire in certain period of the year. But a man, although he is trying to be animal, but he has no restriction. He has sexual desire anytime. Therefore he is worse than animal.
- The animals, they beget, they mate at a certain period, but a human being, at the present moment, they have no such restriction. Any time. Therefore they want contraceptive method.
Accepting Renunciation at the Right Time
Because the human form of life is an incredibly rare opportunity, it must not be entirely squandered on family maintenance and physical comforts. Charting the proper course, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Vedic civilization strictly prescribes a phase of complete renunciation, known as sannyāsa. By giving up worldly duties at a specific stage of life, the practitioner can fully dedicate their remaining days to understanding the Absolute Truth.
- In Vedic civilization a certain period is devoted for accepting renounced order of life, sannyasa. This sannyasa order, as we have accepted, it is compulsory regulative principle of Vedic way of life.
- The mudha, they'll work day and night for sense gratification. Therefore, at a certain period of life, that stupidity should be given up and taken sannyasa. No, finished. That is sannyasa. Now this portion of life should be completely for Krsna's service.
- Mahatma Vidura, being treated just like a godly person by his kinsmen (like Yudhisthira Maharaja), remained there (in Yudhisthira's home) for a certain period just to rectify the mentality of his eldest brother (Dhrtarastra).
Conclusion
By recognizing the temporary nature of both the physical body and the sprawling cosmic manifestation, a sane human being immediately seeks a permanent spiritual solution. As Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently teaches, indulging in unrestricted animalistic habits only tightens the ropes of material illusion. We must wisely shed our false bodily designations, embrace the necessary stages of renunciation, and utilize our short time on earth to revive our eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
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 A Certain Period. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.