I Never Came Back to the World of Misery

Back in 1965 when I was a college student I couldn't stand the material world that I had been born into. It was way too miserable for me, unacceptably unpalatable. Since I intuitively understood that fate could not be so cruel to leave me stranded forever in a world like this, I began earnestly searching for a way to access the beautiful, blissful world that I knew must be on the other side of reality. I encountered many teachings that claimed to be the way to get there, and I tried their methods. But much to my disappointment, nothing liberated me. After three years of painful searching I was still stuck in the muck of miserable material existence.

But one fateful evening in fall of 1968 in Denver, Colorado USA my arduous search bore the sweetest of all fruits. A friend of mine named Patrick Dolan handed me the key to open the door to that amazing transcendental world. He taught me an amazing mantra, which possesses unlimited potency for delivering those who chant it sincerely to the highest realm of existence:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

I gladly took the key and learned how to pass through the door to the blissful side of reality. And I never came back to the world of misery.

Flying the Hare Krishna Mantra Airplane 14 October 2011--Kaliningrad, Russia

Sankarshan Das Flying the Hare Krishna Mantra Airplane, Kaliningrad, Russia

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: When to Abandon Material Activities?

Gurudeva,

I am every day reading your "Thought for the Day". I am really inspired with by it and would like to become enlightened by following your principles. I got a doubt after reading your response for the question, "Should I give up material studies?". How can we be successful in both spiritual and materialistic life? Don't we have to abandon our materialistic activities at some point of our life and concentrate more on spiritual life? Also when should we give up such activities?

Your sincere follower,

Malini

Answer: Retire at 50 or As Soon As It's Practical

For earning a livelihood material studies when necessary should not be given up. But in the Vedic culture activities of material livelihood are meant to be given up by the time we become 50 so that we can devote all of our time and energy to spiritual pursuits. In the modern world, if it is not possible to retire by 50, we should do it as soon as it becomes practical after 50.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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