Beyond the Mirage of Material Existence

A mirage in the desert gives the appearance of being a body of water. But it contains no water at all. It is simply an image of the sky which is being reflected from the warm air lying over the sand. In a similar way, although this material world appears to be a comfortable, sheltering place, there factually is no shelter for us here. It is simply a reflection within the material energy of the spiritual world, the factual abode of eternity, knowledge, and bliss, which lies far beyond the temporary, illusory, miserable material existence.

Just as the desert mirage appears very nice to a thirsty man who is desperately searching for water in the desert, this material existence appears very nice to those persons who are in illusion. But that mirage cannot and will not give that thirsty man the water he needs to survive. It does not contain any water. In the same way this material abode of birth and death can never give real happiness to the living beings who are struggling like anything to find it here.

It's time we stop running after the mirage and find out how to go to that place where we can get factual shelter and happiness, the transcendental abode of that Supreme Person from Whom all of existence is emanating, Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Contact your friendly travel agent today. Tickets are on sale right now. The spiritual master is selling us tickets to that amazingly sweet transcendental abode for the mere price of faith.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Mirage in the Desert

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: What's Happening with ISKCON?

Please accept my obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I am currently hearing from various splinter groups that were born out of ISKCON but then broke away, and it perturbs me enough that it interferes with my chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra on my japa beads. Could you please tell me how I should understand what is going on right now with the movement that Srila Prabhupada founded?

José

Answer: ISKCON is Obeying Srila Prabhupada

The Founder-Acharya of our movement, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ordered that all of his followers stay united in the society, ISKCON, that he founded. Some of them have disobeyed his order by forming various splinter groups. In order to try to justify their existence these splinter groups strongly and regularly criticize the parent organization, ISKCON. In so doing they routinely slander those devotees who are sincerely serving ISKCON. But by doing so they are committing the first offense against the chanting of the holy names--to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for spreading the glories of the holy names. If we hear blasphemy against the devotees, our minds will be disturbed and we will not be able to relish the sweet nectar of Krishna's holy names. Therefore it is better to avoid associating with and reading the propaganda of such splinter groups. If you will completely put them and their divisive propaganda out of your mind, you will be able to again peacefully chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra. So don't be disturbed by politics. Simply dive deeply into Krishna's holy names.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari