Don't uselessly try to improve your position.

[Guest guest]

M€m eva ye prapadyante m€y€m et€ˆ taranti te [bg. 7.14]. Then what should be

our decision? That better not to try for improving our material condition of

life. That cannot be changed. It is not possible. According to destiny we

have to enjoy or suffer. This is called ad™¢¤a. Therefore the œ€stra gives

you advice,

tasyaiva hetoƒ prayateta kovido

na labhyate yad bhramat€m upary adhaƒ

tal labhyate duƒkhavad anyataƒ sukhaˆ

k€lena sarvatra gabh…ra-raˆhas€

[sB 1.5.18]

Œ€stra says, "Don't uselessly try to improve your position." The modern

economists, they'll say, "No, we are not going to accept this." But it is a

fact. People are trying to improve the condition of the poor man, but... It

is going on, but there are thousands and millions of poor men.

Fifty years ago, when I first came to Bombay, at that time I was g™hastha. I

saw there were persons lying down care of footpath, and fifty years after,

we are seeing the same thing is going on. No change. There is a class of men

who must lie down care of footpath. There are so many institutions,

daridra-n€r€yaa-sev€. But why there are daridras still? That means you

cannot change. It is not possible. It is not possible. Just like a man who

has done something criminal and he is in prison. Can you take him out? It

will be another criminal action. If you try to take him away from the

prisonhouse by some means, then you'll be punished and he'll be punished,

both. This is the law state. Similarly, how you can surpass the stringent

laws of nature and the laws of God? That is not possible.

That is Vedic civilization. They were not very much anxious to improve

material position. Even at the present moment, you go to the village. The

innocent villagers, they are satisfied with the position K™¢a has given,

but they are anxious to improve their spiritual life. That is, still you'll

find. Of course, it is not that you'll not try to earn your livelihood. That

you must. But you should not endeavor or give more time for your so-called

material improvement. Better save time and utilize that time for improving

your K™¢a consciousness. That is perfection. That is the injunction of the

œ€stras. Tasyaiva hetoƒ prayateta kovidaƒ.

"But shall I not try for my happiness?" No. If you try, where is your

happiness? You can get so much degree of happiness as you are destined, not

more than that. So why should you waste your time? "No, I see, so many

people have improved." So the answer is that tal labhyate duƒkhavad anyataƒ

sukham. The reason, very nice reason. Duƒkhavad anyataƒ sukham. Just like

nobody tries for unhappiness, but why unhappiness comes? I do not want

something, unhappiness, but it is forced upon me. That means destiny. I must

have it. You are very nice man, you are doing nicely, but some distress is

enforced upon you by force. That is our experience.