"Transcending the Dualities of Material Existence."

"Transcending the Dualities of Material Existence." 

This material nature is in a constant state of dualities. Sometimes the weather is very hot; sometimes it's very cold. Sometimes we are honored; sometimes we are harshly criticized. Sometimes we are healthy; sometimes we fall ill. Sometimes we are young; sometimes we are old. Sometimes we are wealthy; sometimes we are impoverished. There is no steady position here. It is always a tottering situation, like a drop of water on a lotus leaf that can roll off at any time. In this regard it is also mentioned in the Bible, "To everything there is a season." 

Any arrangement we may make for ourselves here is nothing more than a castle made of sand that will be eventually washed into the sea. Just like now there is great anxiety that by the influence of global warming the present world order as we are currently accustomed to it will become greatly disrupted. There is also great anxiety about what will happen to the world when we run out of oil, or what will be the situation if terrorism continues to become more and more prominent. 

The fact is that there is no guarantee of what will happen here except for the fact that we will get sick, get old, and die. If this the only thing we can really count on here, it is no wonder that people drown themselves in sense enjoyment to try to block the anxiety out of their brains. But such enjoyment does not really solve anything. As soon as the sense enjoyment is over one has to face the anxiety again.

Is this what we are meant to experience? Is this the natural state for the living being? Or is this present day anxiety-filled existence a very unnatural situation like the present day polluted rivers and polluted air? 

The natural pure state of the living being is to live an eternal life, full of bliss, and full of knowledge. He is not meant to be living in a body that is temporary, full of ignorance, and full of misery. What has brought us to this unnatural state of prison existence in a place full of so much anxiety? 

We were originally pure Krishna conscious beings in the spiritual world situated in a loving relationship with the Lord. But due to our becoming envious of Him we were transferred to this existence where we can think ourselves to be the center. In this way we are trying to imitate the Lord by trying to take his post of being the center, and we are suffering so many dualities of this material existence. It's no small wonder that in a world where everyone is trying to be the center that there should be so much chaos. Each and every one of us is trying to be the center. This is why there is constant clashing going on within families, among friends, between neighbors, communities, and nations. 

If we want actual peace of mind we must get back to original God-centered conception of existence. This will situate us transcendental to the dualities of material existence and bestow upon us unlimited peace and happiness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari