Material Opulence - an essential subject: Difference between revisions
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To those who are too attached to material enjoyment and material opulence, the process of devotional service is very difficult. When our desire for material opulence is strong, we loss taste for devotional service. Devotional service to the Lord is topmost religious principle in this material world. If we simply remain in material opulence and enjoyment, that will be our disqualification for attaining pure devotional service. Also too much attachment, too much increasing of material civilization means that our next life is very dark. | |||
One should therefore endeavor to sincerely engage in the service of the Lord. The process of devotional service is the only way to free ourselves from the process of birth and death. Another way we can utilize our material opulence is to use all what we have in the service of the Lord. By utilizing our opulence in the service of the Lord we are freed from sinful reaction. | |||
Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category: | Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category:Material Opulence|Material Opulence]]''' category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes. | ||
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== Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books == | == Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books == | ||
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{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|A devotee does not have to desire material opulence, but if he is a pure devotee, there is ample opportunity for him to enjoy material happiness also, without personal endeavor|A devotee does not have to desire material opulence, but if he is a pure devotee, there is ample opportunity for him to enjoy material happiness also, without personal endeavor. Therefore, everyone is advised to take to devotional service under all circumstances. If one desires material opulence, he can also become a pure devotee, and his desires will be fulfilled. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.10.11)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|A Krsna conscious person is fully electrified spiritually, and therefore anyone who touches or takes shelter of such a pure devotee becomes similarly electrified with spiritual potencies. Such devotees are never puffed up with material opulences|A Kṛṣṇa conscious person is fully electrified spiritually, and therefore anyone who touches or takes shelter of such a pure devotee becomes similarly electrified with spiritual potencies. Such devotees are never puffed up with material opulences. Generally, the material opulences are good parentage, education, beauty and riches, but although a devotee of the Lord may possess all four of these material opulences, he is never carried away by the pride of possessing such distinctions. '''(Kṛṣṇa Book, Chapte 87)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Even if the Lord takes away a devotee's material opulences, the Lord immediately offers him a position of which the demigods cannot even dream|Even if the Lord takes away a devotee's material opulences, the Lord immediately offers him a position of which the demigods cannot even dream. There are many examples of this in the history of devotional service. One of them is the opulence of Sudāmā Vipra. Sudāmā Vipra suffered severe material scarcity, but he was not disturbed and did not deviate from devotional service. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.22.31)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Material opulences are controlled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His different potencies and specifically the goddess of fortune. Therefore, those who are after material opulences seek the pleasure or mercy of the goddess of fortune|Material opulences are controlled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His different potencies and specifically the goddess of fortune. Therefore, those who are after material opulences seek the pleasure or mercy of the goddess of fortune. Even the highly placed demigods worship the goddess of fortune, but the goddess of fortune, Mahā-Lakṣmī herself, is always seeking the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.23)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Material wealth and opulence attained through previous pious activities can be fully utilized for one's benefit in this life and the next if one is Krsna conscious. One should not try to possess more than he needs for the bare necessities|Material wealth and opulence attained through previous pious activities can be fully utilized for one's benefit in this life and the next if one is Kṛṣṇa conscious. One should not try to possess more than he needs for the bare necessities. If one gets more than is needed, the surplus should be fully engaged in the Lord's service. That will make the conditioned soul, the world and Kṛṣṇa happy, and this is the aim of life. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.12)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Materially opulent men, being puffed up with the accumulation of wealth, also become so merciless that they indulge in killing animals by opening slaughterhouses. And they think that they themselves will never die|Materially opulent men, being puffed up with the accumulation of wealth, also become so merciless that they indulge in killing animals by opening slaughterhouses. And they think that they themselves will never die. Such foolish persons, forgetting the laws of nature, become overly infatuated with the body. They forget that the material body, even though very much advanced in civilization, up to the position of the demigods, will finally turn into ashes or stool. And while one is living, whatever the external condition of the body may be, within there is only stool, urine and various kinds of worms. '''(Kṛṣṇa Book, Chapte 10)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Only thieves and rogues in the modes of passion and ignorance and maddened by material opulence offer a man in sacrifice before the goddess Kali. This is not sanctioned by the Vedic instructions|Only thieves and rogues in the modes of passion and ignorance and maddened by material opulence offer a man in sacrifice before the goddess Kālī. This is not sanctioned by the Vedic instructions. Presently there are many hundreds and thousands of slaughterhouses throughout the world that are maintained by a puffed-up population mad for material opulence. Such activities are never supported by the Bhāgavata school. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.9.17)'''}} | ||
{{VaniQuotebox| | {{VaniQuotebox|Sometimes the living entity is interested in the yellow stool known as gold and runs after it. That gold is the source of material opulence and envy, and it can enable one to afford illicit sex, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication|Sometimes the living entity is interested in the yellow stool known as gold and runs after it. That gold is the source of material opulence and envy, and it can enable one to afford illicit sex, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication. Those whose minds are overcome by the mode of passion are attracted by the color of gold, just as a man suffering from cold in the forest runs after a phosphorescent light in a marshy land, considering it to be fire. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.7)'''}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:52, 22 November 2020
To those who are too attached to material enjoyment and material opulence, the process of devotional service is very difficult. When our desire for material opulence is strong, we loss taste for devotional service. Devotional service to the Lord is topmost religious principle in this material world. If we simply remain in material opulence and enjoyment, that will be our disqualification for attaining pure devotional service. Also too much attachment, too much increasing of material civilization means that our next life is very dark. One should therefore endeavor to sincerely engage in the service of the Lord. The process of devotional service is the only way to free ourselves from the process of birth and death. Another way we can utilize our material opulence is to use all what we have in the service of the Lord. By utilizing our opulence in the service of the Lord we are freed from sinful reaction.
Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Material Opulence category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes.
Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books
Material Opulence - explore more within this category.
Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.