Material Desires: To Be Fulfilled or Uprooted?

suchandra · January 27, 2008

It is said bhakti-yoga should be performed when one is completely freed of all material desires (anyabilasita sunyam, jnana-karamady anavrtam, anukulyena krsnanu, silanam bhaktir uttama, Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu 1.1.11.) The vedic tradition instructs more or less, when having gone through the four ashramas one should eventually come to the point of being able to easily give up material desires and become fully situated in devotional service, vairagya-vidya-nija-bhakti-yoga (Cc. Madhya 6.254).

The factual position however appears that presently Vaishnavas usually are not able to root out material desire but in the meantime have to disrupt their path of sadhana-bhakti and at one point when having fulfilled material desires resume the path of spiritual live. Prahlada Maharaja, a maha-jana and pure devotee, says:

"O my Lord, when a human being is able to give up all the material desires in his mind, he becomes eligible to possess wealth and opulence like Yours."

"A servant who desires material profits from his master is certainly not a qualified servant or pure devotee. Similarly, a master who bestows benedictions upon his servant because of a desire to maintain a prestigious position as master is also not a pure master."

"One can render unalloyed devotional service only when there are no material desires in one’s mind."

"As soon as one has material desires, one loses his spiritual identity. Then all the paraphernalia of one’s life, including one’s senses, body, religion, patience and intelligence, are deviated from one’s original Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As soon as one has material desires, one cannot properly use his senses, intelligence, mind and so on for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

"To fulfill this spiritual desire, however, one must be free from all material desires. Desirelessness means freedom from material desires."

"The only remedy is to take to devotional service, which begins when one is free from all material desires."

Prahlāda, the Best Among Exalted Devotees

SB 7.10.1-9

27 January, 1975 Tokyo

My dear Bhagavan das adhikari,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows (dated Jan. 25th, 1975):

NEED SANCTION LETTER FROM PRABHUPADA FOR MANAGING OTHER EUROPEAN TEMPLES FORWARD TO PARIS GERMANY--BHAGAVAN DAS.

So far our movement is concerned, actually it is not a so-called religion movement. People throughout the whole world are more or less disgusted with the man-made religious systems. Therefore the government of different states is gradually banning the preaching of religion. People in general also think that this is also another type of so-called religion.

So, gradually, they will take steps for banning our propaganda also, unless we present our system very scientifically based on philosophy. Of course, by Krishna's grace, the higher learned section is appreciating our books. That is the only hope for pushing on.

But, I am very much depressed by the recent incidences in Germany. It is now evident that some of our top men are very much ambitious and there has been so many fall-downs.

In his last letter, Hamsaduta said as follows:

"I am exhausted, my brain is exhausted, I do not know what to do, so you can just tell me what I should do and I shall do that . . . I cannot understand your mind or actions, I do not know what you divine grace wants, or what you want from me. So, at this moment I am just going to sit and chant till I hear from you, because everything till now has come out wrong, so please just instruct me what to do.

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news again. Please forgive me, I am so helpless and spiritually weak. Please save me. What more can I say, please save me. In India you said, 'Every rumor contains a grain of truth.' So the police, the karmis, newspapers must also bear a grain of truth. I feel discouraged now. All my godbrothers and your Divine Grace are dissatisfied with me, so I have lost my enthusiasm."

Under the circumstances, I have asked Hamsaduta to come to me at Hawaii. There I shall try to rectify the mistakes and as previously arranged, the GBC's should act as my secretary at least one month in a year. So, he may come and remain with me and in the meantime, you work conjointly with Brahmananda Svami.

Try to manage Germany, London, and Paris. The main business in Germany is to reply the charges and rescue the frozen money. In England, we have to revive the Ratha-yatra festival which is now stopped by the police intrigue. In Paris, you require a larger place to accommodate devotees, so find out a suitable place.

I am going to Honolulu by Wednesday (29th) and if Brahmananda Svami is absolutely required, I'll call him to South America. Otherwise, both of you co-operatively, execute the most important business in Europe.

Kindly send in regular reports and oblige. I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami

ACBS/ps