In the Kali-yuga we cannot perform very severe... Kṛṣṇa is very kind. He has given us different opportunities for elevating to our transcendental life in different ages. In this age, because we are so fallen and so limited, and so badly associated that it is very difficult to undergo severe austerities and penances.... We cannot go into the forest. We cannot perform yoga systems very nicely. We cannot perform yajñas. We cannot worship the Lord in temple very nicely. So many difficulties.
Therefore śāstra has given us concession: kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt. In this age, simply by chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, mahā-mantra, one can be elevated. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has blessed: ihā haite sarva-siddhi haya tomāra. If you chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra you'll get all perfection. All perfection. So everything is there. But we do not wish to take advantage.
Tapasya, human life is meant for tapasya. We know in our Indian history all big, big kings, they went to the forest, tapasya. The King Bharata, Bharata Mahārāja, under whose name this planet is called Bhārata-varṣa, he left his kingdom, young wife, children, everything, at the age of twenty-four years, and he went for tapasya. So the Pāṇḍavas also. Everyone. The last stage of life should be especially meant for tapasya. Not that up to the point of death we shall remain addicted to this worldly life. No.
So this life is meant for purifying our existence. That means stop this cycle of birth and death. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam (BG 13.9). We should always keep in front. We may think, we may be puffed up, as very much advanced in material comfort, but... You may do so, but at the same time you should keep in front, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi.
You should always think that "What advancement we have made? Have we stopped dying? Have you stopped birth?" There are so many contraceptive method, but the population is increasing, the birth is going on. Similarly we have discovered so many nice medicines, but people are dying. You cannot stop this, birth, death. They are trying to remain as young men, as young women, but they are getting older.
So intelligent men should always keep in front that what advancement we have made—simply struggling. A struggle, a heavy struggle, a hard struggle. That struggle. And we are thinking, "This is advancement." You struggling just like ass. So the whole day and night you are working.
Actually I am working very hard, but I am thinking that I am advancing. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi. We are trying to find out so many medicine, so many humanitarian work. What is that? There is famine, there is struggle. Why don't you do something so that people will not be anymore in famine, any more in distress; there will be no more scarcity of water. That is required.
So these are the problems, and so however we may solve all these problem, the problem of material existence, birth, death, old age and disease, that cannot be stopped, either you become Brahmā or something like that. That is not possible. That is possible only by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā:
- mām upetya punar janma
- duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam
- nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ
- saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ
- (BG 8.15)
Mām upetya tu kaunteya, duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam. This world is recommended by the creator of this world as duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam. It is the place for miseries. And that also temporary. If you make..., want to make compromise, "All right, it may be miserable life. I will stay here," oh, that also you'll not be allowed. You'll be kicked out after some days.
You may try to become very comfortable, good income, good bank balance, or nice wife, nice car, but one day it will come you'll be kicked out: "Please get out." Finished. Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham (BG 10.34). Kṛṣṇa says that "I am mṛtyu. I take away everything. At that time, finished, everything."
So this is our foolishness, that we are trying to be happy in a place which is recommended by the creator Himself, duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (BG 8.15). Duḥkhālayam. This is called foolishness. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, anitya saṁsāre. We are already in a distressed place, and we are increasing our distressed condition of life. That means you are becoming more and more ass, by the name of so-called advancement of education.
Jaḍa-bidyā yata, māyāra vaibhava, tomāra bhajane bādhā. If, by advancement of civilization, we forget God and forget the mission of our life, that is nothing but to become like an ass. Unnecessary working. The ass... The example is given, the ass, because ass has no sense. He works very hard. The... You have got experience, the washerman's ass: it is loaded with three tons of cloth and takes it to the ghāṭa and again brings it. And what is the result? He gets little grass. That's all.
But he has no sense that "This grass, I can get anywhere. Why I am so working hard for this washerman?" Therefore it is ass. I'll take four cāpāṭis, but I am working so hard that there is no limit of my working. And one day Kṛṣṇa comes: "Please get out." Finished. So we are all asses. (chuckles) Therefore Kavirāja Gosvāmī says: kṛṣṇa yei bhaje se baḍa catura. Only intelligent man is he who is Kṛṣṇa conscious. Otherwise all asses. Kṛṣṇa yei bhaje se baḍa catura.