Why Do You Exist?

Do you know why you exist? If you don't, you are completely missing out. It makes no sense for a human being to go through his life without knowing why he exists. Such an unenlightened life is not a human life at all. Indeed, it is an animal existence. It is said that man is rational animal. So what is that rationality that sets him apart from the other animals? That rationality to is to learn why he exists. As soon as he has discovered why he exists his doorway to an eternal life full of bliss and knowledge becomes opened wide. He no longer lives a glum, hum drum, anxiety-ridden existence. He enters into a dimension of ever-increasing exhilaration.

So how does one find out why he exists? He has to find a bona fide spiritual master, a person who has realized the highest truth and become his student. And then under the spiritual master's expert guidance gradually he will realize everything. This is described as follows by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:

jñānena tu tad ajñānaṁ
yeṣāṁ nāśitam ātmanaḥ
teṣām āditya-vaj jñānaṁ
prakāśayati tat param

"When one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up everything in the daytime."--Bhagavad-gita 5.16

It's as simple as that.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Blissful Russian Devotees

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Not Address God In Lithuanian?

If "Krishna" in Lithuanian simply means "God", why can't we just call Him like that? Do you consider Sanskrit superior to Lithuanian language? Because if you don't, then why shouldn't mantras be translated and sung translated in our own language?

Where does the magic of mantras lie: in the precise combination of vowels and consonants or the inner state that you are in while singing them?

Answer: Special Mercy by Addressing Him in His Native Tongue

I am here visiting your wonderful country of Lithuania where I am meeting many nice people such as you. I am very happy that you have taken the time and trouble to write me. You must have attended one of my lectures. The friendly people here are what makes your country so special to me. Regarding your question I request that you kindly consider the following points:

Here in Lithuania I have a student named Raimondas. In English his name is pronounced as Raymond. So I could call him Raymond. But since in his native tongue it is pronounced Raimondas it is more polite and pleasing to him if I call him Raimondas.

So in the same way, the native tongue of the Supreme Person is Sanskrit and it is more polite and pleasing to Him if I pronounce His name as it is pronounced in His mother tongue. Of course, since the Supreme Person is all knowing He is multilingual. He perfectly understands all languages. So I could call Him "God" and He would understand me perfectly. But since His intimate friends and family members in His eternal abode address Him as "Krishna", it is especially pleasing to Him if I address Him such. Of course, it is not required. Everyone can address God in the way that He is called in their native tongue. But those who are very eager to get the special favor of the Lord take advantage of the insider's secret of calling out to Him in the way he is addressed in His home, which is known as Goloka Vrindavan.

The technicalities of precisely uttering each and every syllable of the Sanskrit mantras was of the topmost importance in the previous ages when the brahmanas (priests) were highly proficient in the uttering the mantras with absolute precision. However in the present age of Kali there are no longer any such qualified brahmanas. So by the Lord's special mercy in this age sincerity is the only qualification. In this age the highest power in the mantras comes with uttering them in mood of loving service to the Supreme Person. In other words if we chant the Hare Krishna mantra in a mood of begging Krishna to engage us in His pure devotional service, we will quickly attain the perfectional stage of chanting, pure love of God, in which the Lord becomes personally present before us. This is the perfection of magic, when we meet the Supreme Magician face to face, eye to eye.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari