What Is The Result of True Religion and Material Blindness
When evaluating any path in life, the most intelligent question to ask is what is the final outcome. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently applies the Vedic logic of measuring an activity by its ultimate result, a concept known as phalena paricīyate. By utilizing this standard, he reveals that while material endeavors end in total loss, authentic spiritual practices eternally benefit the soul by awakening pure love for God.
The Result of Authentic Religion
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the value of any religious system is not found in superficial rituals or sectarian labels. The true test of faith is whether the practitioner develops an increasing desire to hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If following a scripture or undergoing austerities results in unalloyed devotion, then the path is perfect and successful.
- We are interested - those who are followers of real Vedanta - to see the result. Phalena pariciyate. Phalena means "by the result." So what is the result? The result is by executing one's particular type of religious system, he must develop Krsna consciousness or God consciousness.
- You can say: "I am very perfectly executing the ritualistic ceremonies and the tenets described in my scripture, Bible" or Veda. That's very good. But what is the result? The result is that you must develop or increase your tendency to hear about God.
- That is the Bhagavata definition - that how much you have enhanced your love of God. You call "Krsna" or something else, that doesn't matter. Phalena pariciyate. The result. Your religious principle, what is the result.
- What is the result of tapasya? To become bhakta, devotee. One who has actually undergone austerities, penances, then the result will be that he will surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is bhakta.
The Disaster of Materialistic Leadership
Modern society is largely directed by politicians and educators who possess no knowledge of the eternal soul or its transmigration. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that when blind leaders guide a spiritually blind populace, the inevitable result is societal disaster. Making grand legislative decisions without understanding the supreme spiritual destination is useless and ultimately endangers everyone involved.
- They are becoming leaders. So what kind of leader? Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. One blind man is leading several other blind men. So what will be the result? The result must be disaster. That is being done.
- If one blind man tries to lead another, what is the result? If both the leaders and followers are blind, they will all fall in a ditch, for they are all bound by their nature.
- We are running so fast for going to hell. This is our position, because we do not know what is the destination. If I do not know what is the destination and try to drive my car in full speed, then what will be the result? The result will be disaster.
- In democratic government at the present moment all kinds of fools and rascals are making decisions. But what can they do? What is the result of their legislation? They enact something today just to whimsically repeal it tomorrow.
The Flawed Foundation of Mundane Knowledge
Educational systems that fail to distinguish between the temporary body and the eternal spirit soul are fundamentally flawed. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that if human society advances its knowledge on this incorrect bodily concept of life, the result will be entirely wrong and foolish. Without grasping the spiritual reality that separates humans from animals, all academic progress simply binds the soul tighter to material suffering.
- If the human society makes progress of their so-called knowledge on this wrong basis understanding, then what will be the result? Everything wrong, everything wrong, everything wrong. Everything foolish.
- The animal cannot understand that there is soul and there is transmigration of the soul. And if the human society makes progress of their so-called knowledge on this wrong basis understanding, then what will be the result? Everything wrong.
- If they cannot distinguish between right and wrong, then what is the result of this education? Education means one must be able to distinguish between the right and wrong.
- What is the result of death? One loses everything - all honor, money, position and material life itself.
The Incomplete Path of Impersonalism
Many philosophers and yogīs attempt to achieve liberation through mental speculation or severe physical austerities without surrendering to the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that attempting to negate the material world without engaging in positive devotional service yields no permanent result. If one neglects the supreme religious principle of surrender to Kṛṣṇa, they will remain trapped in the cycle of repeated birth and death.
- Mayavadi philosophers, impersonalists, want to negate this variety, but what is the result? Because they do not engage in devotional service, they simply undertake the hard labor of austerities and penances without achieving any permanent result.
- The religious system which I am speaking. - What is that? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam (BG 18.66), this religion. So if one is neglectful, does not like this proposal, then what is the result? Aprapya mam - He'll never get Me.
- If one is neglectful, does not like this proposal (Sarva-dharman parityajya), then what is result? "He'll never get Me." Then he will have to continue this process, mrtyu-samsara vartmani. He'll take birth, again die, again take birth, again die.
- One may begin practicing any sort of yoga, either the eightfold yoga system of the jnana-yoga system, means speculating philosophically, and the bhakti-yoga system, devotional service. But if one fails to complete the yoga system, what is the result.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically evaluates the worth of all human activities by demanding to see their final result. Materialistic civilization, guided by spiritually blind leaders and flawed educational systems, ultimately results in societal chaos and the complete loss of all acquisitions at the time of death. Even arduous philosophical speculation fails to provide lasting liberation if it lacks devotion. However, by embracing the path of authentic spiritual life, the soul achieves the highest possible perfection. When activities are performed as a loving offering to the Supreme Lord, the ultimate result is liberation from the material world and the eternal awakening of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category What Is The Result?. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.