Krishna Consciousness is Compulsory

Dear Prabhujis and Matajis,
Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble pranams! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

In the material world everyone without exception, wants happiness and nobody wants any distress. All the endeavors are directed to this end. But unfortunately we find that in spite of all these endeavors, nobody is happy. This being the case, we have the forceful instruction from the youngest Mahajana Sri Prahlada Maharaj that, it is not that in spite of our endeavors for happiness we are unhappy. Rather it is because of these endeavors that we are distressed. This seems quite amazing for us. In Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.42, Sri Prahlada says:

sukhāya duḥkha-mokṣāya saṅkalpa iha karmiṇaḥ
sadāpnotīhayā duḥkham anīhāyāḥ sukhāvṛtaḥ

In this material world, every materialist desires to achieve happiness and diminish his distress, and therefore he acts accordingly. Actually, however, one is happy as long as one does not endeavor for happiness; as soon as one begins his activities for happiness, his conditions of distress begin.

The question arises then, as to how to get happiness and get rid of distress? Srila Prabhupada answers that without endeavor, one can get the amount of happiness and distress for which he is destined, and one cannot change this.

Then, what are we supposed to do? The Vedas enjoin that one should work for self-realization and not for increasing happiness or decreasing distress for the sake of the perishable body.

What is the consequence if we do not lead a life of tapasya (austerity) but waste our time in futile activities? Then we must certainly be embodied in a body like those of cats, dogs, and hogs. Therefore, this life of lusty desires and sense gratification is extremely risky.

Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Isopanishad Mantra 3, warns us, "If we do not care for self realization, the laws of nature force us to work very hard, even though we may not want to do so." If we are not able to digest this powerful statement, then we should understand the following statement coming from the core of the heart of Srila Prabhupada whose compassion and concern flows in each and every word, just like a father instructing his beloved son (who is treading a dangerous path), with the intention of properly guiding the son, for his ultimate benefit.

In the Purport to SB 10.8.49 its mentioned "Foolish persons do not know how risky life is here if one does not follow the instructions of Krishna. The Krishna consciousness movement, therefore, has been started so that by practising Krishna consciousness one can avoid the risky life of this material existence. There is no question of accepting or not accepting Krishna consciousness. It is not optional; it is compulsory. If we do not take to Krishna consciousness, our life is very risky.

So the best thing for us is to indelibly impress upon our minds the Prabhupada punch in Isopanishad mantra 2 that, "Factually, no one has to do anything more than render devotional service to the Lord."The Lord again and again assures that there is no loss in this path. Another Prabhupada punch, which assures this, in Purport to Nectar of Instruction Text 3 is "Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once having begun, ONE IS FORCIBLY DRAGGED TO ULTIMATE SUCCESS."

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev,
Vaijayantimala devi dasi
Abu Dhabi.