We cannot enjoy this material world no matter how hard we try. Ultimately it is simply a bore. Although it sometimes appears that we are enjoying here, this is simply the trick of Maya, the illusory energy, to keep us perpetually entangled in the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, those who are wise do not try to squeeze pleasure out of this place where no factual pleasure exists. Instead they invest their time and energy where there is actually a payoff.
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
"Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Patala]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them."
---Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.18
So there is indeed a place that yields an inconceivable payoff, which is truly worthy of our time and energy. That place is the spiritual platform. How can we perceive it? How can we connect with it? How can we live on it? These are the sorts of questions that we should ask now that we are situated in this human form of life. If we do not ask such questions and instead simply run after money and sex pleasure, where are we? We are simply situated on the animal platform. Many will say, "What's wrong with that? I enjoy being an animal." But there is a profound difference between human life and animal life.
Animal life means that is one is forced to helplessly suffer the pains of material existence. Human life gives one the option of escaping all material miseries and entering into an eternal existence that is completely full with knowledge and bliss.
So the choice has to be made. No choice means we are stuck with the default position, the cycle of birth and death. Do we want to forego the cheap thrills of material existence in exchange for the ultimate happiness? Or would we rather continue to enjoy a few superficial pleasures every now and then, and remain in an embarrassing suffering condition, lifetime after lifetime, after lifetime?
Explained By Sankarshan Das Adhikari
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
"Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the lowest planet [Patala]. As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them."
---Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.18
So there is indeed a place that yields an inconceivable payoff, which is truly worthy of our time and energy. That place is the spiritual platform. How can we perceive it? How can we connect with it? How can we live on it? These are the sorts of questions that we should ask now that we are situated in this human form of life. If we do not ask such questions and instead simply run after money and sex pleasure, where are we? We are simply situated on the animal platform. Many will say, "What's wrong with that? I enjoy being an animal." But there is a profound difference between human life and animal life.
Animal life means that is one is forced to helplessly suffer the pains of material existence. Human life gives one the option of escaping all material miseries and entering into an eternal existence that is completely full with knowledge and bliss.
So the choice has to be made. No choice means we are stuck with the default position, the cycle of birth and death. Do we want to forego the cheap thrills of material existence in exchange for the ultimate happiness? Or would we rather continue to enjoy a few superficial pleasures every now and then, and remain in an embarrassing suffering condition, lifetime after lifetime, after lifetime?
Explained By Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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