Enjoy the Ride

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride to spiritual perfection, even if there are a few bumps along the road. There's nothing better to do with your human form of life than to make the ultimate journey back to the Spiritual Sky. Other pathways may sometimes appear to be smoother, but all they do is take you in circles through the 8,400,000 different species of life. In the final analysis they are much bumpier than the pathway to perfection. Therefore tolerate whatever austerities you may find in Krishna consciousness and attain the Supreme Nirvana of pure love of Godhead in this every lifetime. The spiritual master is your best friend to guide you, bless you, and inspire you every step along the way.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Imperfect Love

I have read one of Srila Prabhupada's articles in which he said that there is no love in this material world even though many people glorify it. There are so many people who glorify the love between young couples, between parents and children, between friends, and love for the country, etc, etc. Srila Prabhupada says that it is not love, it's kama--material desires. And in Sanskrit there is no such word as "love", the only similar word is "prema"--love for Godhead. Is it a fact that the so-called "love" in the material world is only a distorted reflection of prema--the spiritual love?

I have personal experience of this. My parents "love" me, so they bind me and do not allow me to do anything that is against their will, they do not allow me to serve Krishna. This is kama, not love.

But what about the love between the devotees? Is this kama or spiritual love? Or a mixture of both?

Your eternal servant,

Zhang Yechen

Answer: The Perfection of Love

The so-called love in this material world is kama or lust. But when one loves Krishna, he can then genuinely love Krishna's devotees and all living beings. When we water the root of the tree, all the leaves and branches are nourished. That love of a devotee for other devotees and all living beings is completely devoid of kama. It is a manifestation of prema, because he loves everyone seeing them in relationship with Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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