What is the Difficulty in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness?
In a world overwhelmed by complex philosophies, stressful lifestyles, and intellectual gymnastics, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly poses a penetrating question: "What is the difficulty?" He emphasizes that the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not an esoteric, convoluted puzzle meant only for elite scholars. It is a supremely simple, logical, and joyful process. The path back to Godhead is open to everyone; the only real obstacle is the stubbornness of the conditioned soul.
The Joyful and Simple Practice
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently points out that the actual practices of bhakti-yoga are easy and pleasant to perform. Lord Kṛṣṇa simply asks for a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water offered with love. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, dancing, and eating spiritual food (prasādam) require no great wealth or excruciating austerities. As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, even a child can participate and perfect their life without any difficulty.
- Krsna says "You become My devotee." "You worship Me." "Offer your obeisances unto Me." Now, all these item, there is no expenditure, and anyone can do. Even the child can do. What is the difficulty?
- This is a rascaldom civilization. What is difficulty there? You come, sit down, chant Hare Krsna, take nice prasadam, hear philosophy, see nice pictures, decorated Deity. What is the difficulty there.
- You just become devotee of Krsna and always think of Him. Where is the difficulty? You can walk on the street and remember Krsna. Is there any tax? No, the government will not ask you for any income tax.
- If a child can do it, you cannot do it? What is the difficulty? If you offer a flower to the Deity, if you offer your obeisances . . . the child, it's learning. Don't think it is going for nothing. Everything is calculated.
The Clear Logic of the Soul
One of the most foundational teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā is that the living entity is not the temporary material body, but the eternal spirit soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda expresses astonishment that modern, so-called educated people find this concept difficult to understand. It is a matter of simple observation: just as we remember our childhood while possessing an adult body, we remain the same person even as the body completely changes.
- So what is the difficulty of understanding this simple truth that the soul is different from the body? And so far eternity of the soul, that is also, there is proof.
- I am permanent. And body is changing. This simple truth, what is the difficulty for the people to understand this simple truth? The body is changing, but I am not changing. I am eternal.
- Realizing means you can... It is very simple thing, that a living man and a dead man. So you can realize. There was soul so he was living. Now the soul is not there, he's dead. Is there any difficulty? What is the difficulty?
- Just try to understand, you have to preach immortality of the soul, transmigration of the soul. What is the difficulty? Simple logic.
Accepting the Absolute Truth As It Is
Mental speculators create immense difficulty by interpreting clear scriptural statements. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly argues against the tendency to manufacture metaphorical meanings for straightforward verses. When Kṛṣṇa says Kurukṣetra, He means the geographical place; when He says He is the Supreme, He means exactly that. The path of true knowledge requires simply accepting the authority of the Lord without distortion.
- What is the difficulty to understand dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre (BG 1.1)? There is no difficulty. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous commentator says that "Kuruksetra means this body." In this way Bhagavad-gita is being misinterpreted.
- Krsna says that "I am the Supreme." So if I say, "Krsna is the Supreme," where is my difficulty, unless I cheat others to become the Krsna or the Supreme? That is cheating.
- Preach this Bhagavad-gita as it is. People will be benefited. You'll be benefited. Don't make unnecessary interpretation, misguide others and spoil your own life. That is very unfortunate. What is the difficulty to accept Bhagavad-gita?
- Real guru is he who instructs what Krsna has said. It is not that you manufacture your teaching. No. There is no need of manufacturing. The instruction is already there. You have simply to say, "This is this." That's all. Is it very difficult task?
God is Helping from Within and Without
Finding God is not a hopeless endeavor, because the Supreme Lord actively desires our return. Śrīla Prabhupāda reassures us that Kṛṣṇa provides complete guidance: He leaves His instructions in the Bhagavad-gītā, sends His pure representative (the ācārya) to teach us externally, and personally sits in our hearts as the Paramātmā to direct us internally.
- Krsna is explaining Himself in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna is sending His representative acarya to teach you, and Krsna is within yourself trying to teach you if you are actually serious. Then where is the difficulty?
- Krsna is within you. He'll give you. As soon as you become a pure devotee, all dictation will come from within. And besides that, Krsna is helping, inside and outside. Outside is spiritual master; inside Krsna Himself. Where is the difficulty?
- Where is the difficulty to understand Krsna consciousness? Everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita. If you diligently study and try to understand, you remain fully Krsna conscious always. Everything is there.
- Where is the difficulty in finding a guru? If one is sincere he can find the guru and learn everything. One should take lessons from the guru and find out the goal of life.
The Real Obstacle: Dog Obstinacy
If the philosophy is logical, the practice is joyful, and God is actively helping us, why do people suffer? Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the only true difficulty is the living entity's false ego. The refusal to accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not based on intellectual inability, but on a stubborn, rebellious pride that prefers the misery of illusion over submission to God.
- To execute this Krsna consciousness is very pleasing. And pratyaksavagamam, and you'll understand directly how we are advancing. So where is the difficulty? The difficulty is dog obstinacy. They'll not do it. "Why shall I do it?" This is the difficulty.
- We are giving the name of God, the address of God, the father, God's father's name also, Nanda-nandana, Devaki-nandana. So where is the difficulty to find out? There is no difficulty. But the rascals will not accept. They will continue their rascaldom.
- The disease is there, and the remedy is also there. So we offer you the remedy free of charges, and if you don't take it, then it should be understood that you are so misfortunate, unfortunate. What is the difficulty?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda powerfully dismantles the illusion that spiritual life is complicated or inaccessible. By repeatedly asking, "What is the difficulty?" he reveals the inherent simplicity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The logic distinguishing the eternal soul from the material body is clear. The process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and honoring prasādam is universally practical and joyous. God Himself provides the instructions, the spiritual master, and the internal guidance required for success. Therefore, the only actual difficulty is the conditioned soul's "dog obstinacy"—the stubborn refusal to surrender. By giving up this unnecessary rebellion and simply accepting the direct instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā, anyone can easily and joyfully achieve the ultimate perfection of life as Śrīla Prabhupāda so mercifully intended.
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 What is the Difficulty. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.