Eternally relevent blog: Duty and honour [ 2008-01-25 ]

Everything belongs to the Supreme, and therefore one should not usurp another’s property. We have a tendency to manufacture many things. Especially nowadays, we are building skyscrapers and developing other material facilities. We should know, however, that the ingredients of the skyscrapers and machines cannot be manufactured by anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The whole world is nothing but a combination of the five material elements (tejo-vāri-mṛdāḿ yathā vinimayaḥ). A skyscraper is a transformation of earth, water and fire. Earth and water are combined and burnt into bricks by fire, and a skyscraper is essentially a tall construction of bricks. Although the bricks may be manufactured by man, the ingredients of the bricks are not. Of course, man, as a manufacturer, may accept a salary from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is stated here: tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ. One may construct a big skyscraper, but neither the constructor, the merchant nor the worker can claim proprietorship. Proprietorship belongs to the person who has spent for the building. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has manufactured water, earth, air, fire and the sky, and one can use these and take a salary (tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ). However, one cannot claim proprietorship. This is perfect communism. Our tendency to construct great buildings should be used only for constructing large and valuable temples in which to install the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then our desire for construction will be fulfilled.

SB 8.1.10

Everything is property of Krishna. What a cool point. Sometimes we stop process of bhakti-yoga because we don’t feel inspired. Or it becomes boring, or we become “too lazy”, “too fallen” etc.

But actually, if we have spiritual knowledge, we should understand from this point that if Krishna is owner, it is out duty to serve Him, and try to please Him because He supplies us with air, water etc. That is minimum. This is our duty, it’s not matter of emotions, inspiration etc.

Same as regular job. If we get salary from somebody, our duty is to work for that person. We can’t say “I am not inspired today.” Who cares for your inspiration? It is our duty to repay our debt to Krishna. It is not matter of inspiration or emotions. It is matter of understanding philosophy.

We use Krishna’s mercy to get away with stupid excuses like that. Because Krishna usually doesn’t stop water, sun or air if we don’t satisfy him. He just tolerates. But that doesn’t mean He is happy. It still makes us thief. And any normal person doesn’t want to be thief.

We might think we tricked Krishna, “Since he supplies everything anyway, why should I repay.” But when material energy sees that we are not repaying, she will reduce resources more and more. And we will become more and more poor. So, only lack in the world is lack of Krishna conscioussness, nothing else is needed.

So, why do we see so many persons who are rich but don’t serve Krishna? To understand that, we must look in the past, that person did something pious for sure. But wealth is usually great curse for materialists, because they degrade more and more if they are rich. And we must also look in terms of time, how long that person will be rich, and where is he going after this life.

So, serving Krishna is our duty, it is not matter emotions or inspiration. Therefore, understanding basic points in philosophy is making us more strong in Krishna conscioussness.

And, it can also be honor. Once we understand how Krishna is great, it becomes honor to serve him.