Concerning man's search for the ultimate goal of life, Caitanya Mahaprabhu relates a story from the commentary of Madhva which occurs in the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (Madhva-bhashya) Sarvajna to a poor man who came to him to have his future told. When Sarvajna saw the horoscope of the man, he was at once astonished that the man was so poor, and he said to him, "Why are you so unhappy? From your horoscope I can see that you have a hidden treasure left to you by your father. However, the horoscope indicates that your father could not disclose this to you because he died in a foreign place, but now you can search out this treasure and be happy." This story is cited because the living entity is suffering due to his ignorance of the hidden treasure of his Supreme Father, Krishna. That treasure is love of Godhead, and in every Vedic scripture the conditioned soul is advised to find it. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, although the conditioned soul is the son of the wealthiest personality -- the Personality of Godhead -- he does not realize it. Therefore Vedic literatures are given to him to help him search out his father and his paternal property.
The astrologer Sarvajna further advised the poor man: "Don't dig on the southern side of your house to find the treasure, for if you do so you will be attacked by a poisonous wasp and will be baffled. The search should be conducted on the eastern side where there is actual light, which is called devotional service or Krishna consciousness. On the southern side there are Vedic rituals, and on the western side there is mental speculation, and on the northern side there is meditational yoga."
Sarvajna's advice should be carefully noted by everyone. If one searches for the ultimate goal by the ritualistic process, he will surely be baffled. Such a process involves the performance of rituals under the guidance of a priest who takes money in exchange for service. A man may think he will be happy by performing such rituals, but actually if he does gain some result from them, it is only temporary. His material distresses will continue. Thus he will never become truly happy by following the ritualistic process. Instead, he will simply increase his material pangs more and more. The same may be said for digging on the northern side, or searching for the treasure by means of the meditational yoga process. By this process a person thinks of becoming one with the Supreme Lord, but this merging into the Supreme is like being swallowed by a large serpent. Sometimes a large serpent swallows a smaller one, and merging into the spiritual existence of the Supreme is analogous. While the small serpent is searching after perfection, he is swallowed. Obviously there is no solution here. On the western side there is also an impediment in the form of a yaksha, an evil spirit who protects the treasure. The idea is that a hidden treasure can never be found by one who asks the favor of a yaksha in order to attain it. The result is that one will simply be killed. This yaksha is the speculative mind, and in this case the speculative process of self-realization, or the jnana process, is also suicidal.
The only possibility then is to search for the hidden treasure on the eastern side by the process of devotional service in full Krishna consciousness. Indeed, that process of devotional service is the perpetual hidden treasure, and when one attains to it, he becomes perpetually rich. One who is poor in devotional service to Krishna is always in need of material gain. Sometimes he suffers the bites of poisonous creatures, and sometimes he is baffled; sometimes he follows the philosophy of monism and thereby loses his identity, and sometimes he is swallowed by a large serpent. It is only by abandoning all this and becoming fixed in Krishna consciousness, devotional service to the Lord, that one can actually achieve the perfection of life.
From the Teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Phil edition 1981.
- Board index Religions Beliefs Prophecies and Prophets
- Search
-
- It is currently Mon May 13, 2024 12:18 am
- All times are UTC-07:00
The Wise Man
Discuss Prophecies and Prophets. From the Ancients to Modern Day Soothsayers.
The Wise Man
Om namo bagavate vasudevaya, " God is the Cause of All causes."
The Wise Man
Blimey.............you don't half go on don't you ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Return to “Prophecies and Prophets”
Jump to
- Official Forumgarden Area
- ↳ News and Announcements
- ↳ Request A New Forum Here
- ↳ Problems, Solutions Feedback
- ↳ Threads containing hotlinks
- ↳ Test Forum
- Relaxing in the Garden
- ↳ Introductions
- ↳ Member Map Link
- ↳ Photos
- ↳ Member Map Discussion
- ↳ Members' News
- ↳ ForumGarden Hotel
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Friends, Relationships, Advice
- ↳ Mental Health
- ↳ Travel Vacation
- ↳ FG Game Shows
- ↳ The Dating Game
- ↳ Commentary
- ↳ FG's Got Talent!
- ↳ Mystery Gardener!
- ↳ Weather Station
- ↳ Welcome To My Day!
- ↳ Pub Nutters Inn
- ↳ The Coffee Shop
- ↳ Holidays
- ↳ Just For The Fun Of It
- ↳ Arcade Discussions
- ↳ Word Games
- ↳ This Deserves A Caption
- ↳ Links to the Fascinating
- ↳ Explain Your Avatar!
- ↳ Did You Know?
- ↳ Show Us Your Computer Station
- ↳ Skewed News Humor
- TV Movie Chatter
- ↳ General TV Shows
- ↳ Soap Operas
- ↳ Films Cinema Forum
- Music Forums
- ↳ General Music
- ↳ New Releases
- ↳ Song Lyrics
- ↳ Favorite Music Videos
- My Favorite Videos
- ↳ Arts Animation
- ↳ Autos Vehicles
- ↳ Comedy
- ↳ Music
- ↳ People
- ↳ Pets Animals
- ↳ Science Technology Videos
- ↳ Sports
- ↳ Travel Places
- ↳ Video Games
- Personal Forums
- ↳ Fitness Nutrition
- ↳ Wall Street to Main Street
- ↳ Health Wellness
- ↳ Diabetes
- ↳ Men's Health
- ↳ Women's Health
- ↳ Healthcare
- ↳ Work Employment
- ↳ Fashion Clothing
- ↳ Home Management
- ↳ Kids Family
- ↳ Physically Challenged
- Support and Counseling
- ↳ Recovery Forum
- ↳ Bereaved People
- ↳ Bereaved Parents
- General Forums
- ↳ Current Events
- ↳ History
- ↳ Bizarre News Stories
- ↳ Conspiracy Theories
- ↳ Conservation The Environment
- ↳ Polls, Polls, and more Polls
- ↳ Philosophy
- ↳ Wide World of Sports
- ↳ Societal Issues News
- Crimes, Trials, Justice
- ↳ Crimes Trials
- ↳ Missing Children
- ↳ Missing Adults
- ↳ Amber Alert Forum
- Shop 'Til You Drop
- ↳ Hot Deals Freebies
- Dogs, Cats, All Things Pet Related
- ↳ The Pets In Our Lives
- ↳ Pet Advice Support
- ↳ Choosing a Pet
- ↳ Training Your Pet
- ↳ Pet Behavior
- ↳ Your Pet's Diet
- Farming
- ↳ Pastoral
- ↳ Hydroponic
- ↳ Arable
- Autos, Motorcycles, Anything With Wheels
- ↳ Cycling and Cyclists
- ↳ Biker Forum
- ↳ General Chit Chat
- ↳ Auto Racing
- Radio Forums
- ↳ General Radio
- ↳ Amateur Radio
- ↳ Shortwave Listening
- ↳ Collecting and Refurbishing
- ↳ Radio Tech: HD Radio, Satellite, SDR, Packet
- Politics
- ↳ Current Political Events
- ↳ Immigration
- ↳ Abortion
- ↳ Gun Control
- ↳ Drugs, Alcohol Tobacco
- ↳ Health Care
- ↳ Warfare Military
- ↳ Presidential Elections Campaigns
- ↳ Social Human Rights
- ↳ International Politics
- ↳ Political Humor Satire
- Arts Entertainment
- ↳ The Time Capsule
- ↳ Time Capsule Photo Gallery
- ↳ The Nifty 1950's
- ↳ The Psychedelic 1960's
- ↳ The Super 70's
- ↳ The Awesome 80's
- ↳ The 1990's.
- ↳ Our Current Decade
- ↳ The Television Forum
- ↳ The Library
- ↳ Talk About Comedy
- ↳ The Gaming Zone - PC Console
- ↳ Flash Games
- ↳ Web Design Art Forum
- ↳ Poetry Writing Forum
- Religions Beliefs
- ↳ General Religious Discussions
- ↳ Christianity
- ↳ Modern Ancient Paths
- ↳ Body, Mind, Soul
- ↳ Magic Mystery
- ↳ Ancient Wisdom
- ↳ Islam
- ↳ Judaism
- ↳ Eastern Religions
- ↳ Godlessness
- ↳ Prophecies and Prophets
- Science Technology
- ↳ Science
- ↳ Paranormal Science
- ↳ Space and Astronomy
- ↳ Earth Changes
- ↳ The Internet
- ↳ Computers Internet
- ↳ Electronic Gadgets Galore
- ↳ Home and Car Audio
- Hobbies - Special Interest Forums
- ↳ The Outdoors
- ↳ Gardening Forum
- ↳ Garden Galleries
- ↳ Photography More
- ↳ Geo Photo Blogging
- ↳ Needlecrafts
- ↳ The Kitchen
- ↳ Arts Crafts
- Senior Forums
- ↳ Retirement Planning
- ↳ Retirement Activities
- ↳ Health and Drug Concerns
- ↳ Senior Share
- Regional
- ↳ United States
- ↳ New England / Mid Atlantic
- ↳ South East
- ↳ Mid West
- ↳ Mountain West
- ↳ South West
- ↳ Pacific West
- ↳ Australia
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ United Kingdom
- ↳ England
- ↳ Scotland
- ↳ Wales
- ↳ Northern Ireland
- ↳ Ireland
- ↳ Other Regions
- Westcliff Rules Debating Area
- ↳ Watch
- ↳ Discuss
- ↳ Propose
- ForumGarden Blogs
- ↳ Recent Blog Postings