View source for We can promote ourself in the heavenly planets and we can degrade ourself to the hellish planets also - both ways. Because as soon as we are engaged in karma, unknowingly or knowingly we commit some sinful activities. This is the position

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{{terms|"We can promote ourself in the heavenly planets and we can degrade ourself to the hellish planets also—both ways. Because as soon as we are engaged in karma, unknowingly or knowingly we commit some sinful activities. This is the position"}}
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{{compiler|Soham}}
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[[Category:We Can]]
[[Category:Promotion]]
[[Category:Ourself]]
[[Category:Heavenly Planets]]
[[Category:Degradation]]
[[Category:Hellish Planets]]
[[Category:Both Ways]]
[[Category:Because]]
[[Category:As Soon As]]
[[Category:Engage]]
[[Category:Karma]]
[[Category:Knowingly or Unknowingly]]
[[Category:Committing Sins]]
[[Category:Some]]
[[Category:Sinful Activities]]
[[Category:This Is the Position]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SOHAM]]
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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There are three processes: karma, jñāna, bhakti. So yoga is within the jñāna. To improve our condition there are different processes. One is called karma. Just like generally people are trying to elevate his position, economic condition, working day and night very hard. Similarly, we can also work very hard for our future happiness. We can promote ourself in the heavenly planets and we can degrade ourself to the hellish planets also—both ways. Because as soon as we are engaged in karma, unknowingly or knowingly we commit some sinful activities. This is the position. Just like even if I do not like to kill any animal, still, while walking we are killing many animals, many ants on the street, unwillingly. So that is also taken into account. You cannot kill even an ant.
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[[Vanisource:750608 - Lecture SB 06.01.06-7 - Honolulu|750608 - Lecture SB 06.01.06-7 - Honolulu]]
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So here Parīkṣit Mahārāja does not raise such foolish question that "Who is suffering for. . ." He is suffering. One who has committed sinful life, he must suffer. That is the law. So the answer is, Śukadeva Gosvāmī,

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:na ced ihaivāpacitiṁ yathāṁhasaḥ
:kṛtasya kuryāt mana-ukta-pāṇibhiḥ
:dhruvaṁ sa vai pretya narakān upaiti
:ye kīrtitā me bhavatas tigma-yātanāḥ 
:([[Vanisource:SB 6.1.7|SB 6.1.7]])
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So Śukadeva Gosvāmī replied, "My dear king, the sinful activities must be atoned." There are three processes: karma, jñāna, bhakti. So yoga is within the jñāna. To improve our condition there are different processes. One is called karma. Just like generally people are trying to elevate his position, economic condition, working day and night very hard. Similarly, we can also work very hard for our future happiness. We can promote ourself in the heavenly planets and we can degrade ourself to the hellish planets also—both ways. Because as soon as we are engaged in karma, unknowingly or knowingly we commit some sinful activities. This is the position. Just like even if I do not like to kill any animal, still, while walking we are killing many animals, many ants on the street, unwillingly. So that is also taken into account. You cannot kill even an ant. So the karma, karma-kāṇḍa, is not very safe. Even if we want to act very piously, the danger is not over. There are many instances. There was one king. He was very charitable and he was giving cows, many cows to the brāhmaṇas, and. . . You will find this story in the Kṛṣṇa book. So there was some mistake. One brāhmaṇa was taking another brāhmaṇa's cows, and both of them fought and they persisted. The owner wanted, "I want this cow returned back." And the king offered that "Instead of this cow you take ten cows from me. You settle up." No, he would not do that. In this way there was some misunderstanding, and the brāhmaṇa cursed him, as a result of which he had to become an. . . What is called?

Devotees: Lizard.

Prabhupāda: Lizard. Just see this karma-kāṇḍa. He had to become a lizard, that Kṛṣṇa delivered him. So this is karma-kāṇḍa. If there is little discrepancy, then there is great risk. Then jñāna-kāṇḍa. Jñāna-kāṇḍa means to understand things very properly. So jñāna-kāṇḍa is simply speculation, because there is no knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So that is also risky. So only bhakti-mārga is not risky. Bhakti-mārga means devotion, the path of devotional service. Because this material life means contamination of the three modes of material nature. Either you are on the goodness or in the passion or in ignorance, there is chance of falling down from one platform to another, so long you are on the material platform. But if you remain on the spiritual platform. . . Just like we are trying to keep you on the spiritual platform. That is bhakti-yoga—always engaged in devotional service. Then you are above all these material qualities
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