A Train Runs on Two Rails

May 12, 2005

Hare Krishna,

"A Train Runs on Two Rails"

A train runs on two rails. Similarly, if we are to realize our full potential as human beings we must also run on two rails. This is nicely described in the Sri Isopanisad as follows:

vidyam cavidyam ca yastad vedobhayam sahaavidyaya mrtyum tirtvavidyayamrtam asnute

( "Only one who can prosecute material life and spiritual life side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality." Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 11 )

As long as we have material bodies we no doubt have to take care of them. But the modern world society has grossly over-emphasized this aspect of existence and has therefore created a hellish, nightmarish atmosphere. To live comfortably is our allotted quota by the Lord Krishna's arrangement. But to live extravagantly at the expense of our spiritual nature is in direct violation of the laws of existence. Such a lawless defiance of our factual identities will never bring lasting peace and happiness to anyone. It instead creates a society that becomes ever-increasingly chaotic. Such a human society that grossly violates the laws of nature is not a human society at all. It is rather a society of two-legged animals. The poor souls who are the products of such a society vainly try to squeeze pleasure of what amounts to nothing more than a state of non-existence.Practically every book, course of study, TV show, radio program, magazine, billboard, newspaper, and web site reinforces the false conception, "I am this body." So it's not surprising at all that everywhere throughout the world we see that practically everyone is deluded into thinking, "I am a man,", "I am a woman,", "I am an American,", "I am a Russian," or any one of thousands of other false conceptions of the self based on this material body. If we try to explain to someone that they are not their body, that they are instead an eternal spiritual being, they will have a very hard time to grasp it. They are afraid that somehow or other we will deprive them of their happiness. They base their happiness on the gratification of their bodily senses even though it is a fact that their temporary senses cannot give them lasting pleasure.

"Plain living and high thinking," should be the motto of the human society. We should make whatever simple arrangement necessary to keep body and soul together, and the balance energy should be utilized for self-realization, for realizing the purpose of our existence. Instead of this, however, we see that the modern so-called civilization has adopted a program of high living and no thinking. Huge amounts of money and energy are spent to prop up the false bodily conception of the self and almost no one wants to invest even a small fraction of their energy for spiritual enlightenment.The small number who are inclined towards spiritual realization are often cheated by

charlatans who pose as spiritual masters or spiritual leaders for the sake of name, fame, and profit. It is very easy to find a guru who will take away your money, but very difficult to find one who can take away your anxiety. The bona fide spiritual master is like a rain cloud who mercifully extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. If we can somehow or other come in contact with such a spiritual master we should take full advantage of his association for quickly achieving life's ultimate goal. We should inquire submissively and render service unto him. Such a soul has seen the truth and can reveal it to us.

People are reluctant to accept the bona spiritual master because they have been so badly misguided throughout their life. They have reached the point of trusting no one. They will listen only to their own mind. What they don't realize, however, is that their mind is simply the product of all the false conditioning they have undergone since the day they came out of their mother's womb. The mind, therefore, can also not be trusted. This may seem like a hopeless quagmire. However, the all-merciful Lord Sri Krishna is within their hearts. When one is fully sincere to surrender completely to the merciful Sri Krishna, He will bring that person into direct contact with a fully realized spiritual master, who will consequently enlighten him. Under the guidance of a fully enlightened guru one can successful and happily progress along the two rails and achieve the ultimate spiritual destination.

Sankarshan Das AdhikariEmail: sdaPhone: 1-512-835-2121

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