Harmonizing Material Life with Spiritual Life

2018-10-21
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.13.35 - Harmonizing Material Life with Spiritual Life (download mp3)
by Radha Gopinath Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.com

SB 11.13.35
drstim tatah pratinivartya nivrtta-trsnas
 tusnim bhaven nija-sukhanubhavo nirihah
sandrsyate kva ca yadidam avastu-buddhya
 tyaktam bhramaya na bhavet smrtir a-nipatat

Translation:

Having understood the temporary illusory nature of material things, and thus having pulled one’s vision away from illusion, one should remain without material desires. By experiencing the happiness of the soul, one should give up material speaking and activities. If sometimes one must observe the material world, one should remember that it is not ultimate reality and therefore one has given it up. By such constant remembrance up till the time of death, one will not again fall into illusion.

Purport:

To maintain the material body one cannot avoid eating and sleeping. In these and other ways, one will sometimes be forced to deal with the material world and the physical aspects of one’s own body. At such times one should remember that the material world is not actual reality and that therefore one has given it up to become Krsna conscious. By such constant remembrance, by enjoying spiritual bliss within oneself and by retiring from any material activities of the mind, speech or body, one will not fall into material illusion.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments as follows. “The living entity, while living in the external energy of the Lord, should give up any anxiety for sense gratification and should not act for his personal enjoyment. Rather, one should search out spiritual bliss through devotional service to the Supreme Lord. By reviving one’s relationship with Lord Krsna, one will understand that if one accepts any material object for one’s personal enjoyment, attachment will inevitably develop, and thus one will be bewildered by illusion. By gradually developing one’s spiritual body, one will no longer desire to enjoy anything within the material world.”