View source for Dispelling Misconceptions of Truth - That Is Not

In a world filled with contradictory philosophies and materialistic ambitions, it is easy to become bewildered about the true goal of life. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently uses the phrase "that is not" to sharply cut through these illusions, systematically refuting false ideas about science, religion, and human progress. By explicitly defining what is not authorized, he guides humanity back to the absolute standard of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, ensuring that sincere seekers are not cheated by concocted theories.

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=== Rejecting False Identity and Progress ===
Modern society equates success with economic development, technological advancement, and a comfortable lifestyle. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly rejects this notion, explaining that any civilization that simply improves the animalistic activities of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending without addressing the eternal soul is not true human progress.

* [[Vaniquotes:Modern civilization is in the opinion that if they can improve their material condition of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, that is advancement of civilization. But that is not advancement of civilization|Modern civilization is in the opinion that if they can improve their material condition of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, that is advancement of civilization. But that is not advancement of civilization.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We have created a civilization that one must earn thousands of dollars, then he can live like a gentleman. Is that successful life? And for earning that thousands of dollars he has to work so hard, just like animal, beast. No. That is not successful life|We have created a civilization that one must earn thousands of dollars, then he can live like a gentleman. Is that successful life? And for earning that thousands of dollars he has to work so hard, just like animal, beast. No. That is not successful life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We are identifying ourself with this body: "I am Indian," "I am Hindu," "I am Christian," "I am brahmin," "I am black," "I am white." These are all designations. This is not my real identity. My real identity is aham brahmasmi, "I am spirit soul."|We are identifying ourself with this body: "I am Indian," "I am Hindu," "I am Christian," "I am brahmin," "I am black," "I am white." These are all designations. This is not my real identity. My real identity is aham brahmasmi, "I am spirit soul."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you think that you have discovered atomic energy to defend yourself, oh, that is not advancement of human civilization. The defending measure, that's all|If you think that you have discovered atomic energy to defend yourself, oh, that is not advancement of human civilization. The defending measure, that's all.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The tiny material scientists and engineers who have discovered vehicles to travel over a few thousand miles in outer space will not be allowed entrance. That is not the way to reach the better planets|The tiny material scientists and engineers who have discovered vehicles to travel over a few thousand miles in outer space will not be allowed entrance. That is not the way to reach the better planets.]]

=== Dismissing Speculative Science ===
Many people blindly accept the theories of modern scientists, believing that life evolved by chance from dead matter. Śrīla Prabhupāda completely dismisses these atheistic claims as foolish speculation, stating that it is the eternal soul, not the physical body, that transmigrates through the various species created by God's energy.

* [[Vaniquotes:The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. So how to defeat this theory? That is our business. We have to defeat this rascal theory|The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. So how to defeat this theory? That is our business. We have to defeat this rascal theory.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There are many, many learned scientists; they think that the origin of life is chemical combination. So that is not the fact|There are many, many learned scientists; they think that the origin of life is chemical combination. So that is not the fact.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Who is accepting another body? The Darwin's theory is that the body is changing to another body. That is nonsense. That is not the fact. The soul is transmigrating from one body to another. That is knowledge. This is fact|Who is accepting another body? The Darwin's theory is that the body is changing to another body. That is nonsense. That is not the fact. The soul is transmigrating from one body to another. That is knowledge. This is fact.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is not that every different types of body and living entities have come by chance. This is nonsense. There is no question of chance. Everything is being carried or being conducted by the three modes of material nature|It is not that every different types of body and living entities have come by chance. This is nonsense. There is no question of chance. Everything is being carried or being conducted by the three modes of material nature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Then there is anumana, inductive knowledge - hypothesis. For instance, Darwin's theory says it may be like this, it may be like that. But that is not science|Then there is anumana, inductive knowledge - hypothesis. For instance, Darwin's theory says it may be like this, it may be like that. But that is not science.]]

=== Condemning Manufactured Religion ===
Religion is not a product of human invention that can be altered to fit personal whims or modern trends. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that true religion means strict obedience to the laws of God, and any attempt to interpret the scriptures or manufacture a new spiritual path is entirely unauthorized.

* [[Vaniquotes:Man-made religion is not religion. Religion means God-made religion. That is religion. Dharmam tu saksat. Just like law. Law means the orders enunciated by the government. You cannot manufacture law at home. That is not law|Man-made religion is not religion. Religion means God-made religion. That is religion. Dharmam tu saksat. Just like law. Law means the orders enunciated by the government. You cannot manufacture law at home. That is not law.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If somebody says that "I am introducing this religious process," that is nonsense. Nobody will be interested. But if God gives you law, just like the state gives you law, one has to accept. So religion means to accept the order of God. That is religion|If somebody says that "I am introducing this religious process," that is nonsense. Nobody will be interested. But if God gives you law, just like the state gives you law, one has to accept. So religion means to accept the order of God. That is religion.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This is very important verse, that any manufactured religion, that is not religion. The principle of religion is our relationship with God. In any religion where is no such conception, that is not religion|This is very important verse, that any manufactured religion, that is not religion. The principle of religion is our relationship with God. In any religion where is no such conception, that is not religion.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:You can manufacture so many other dharmas - that is not dharma; that is your concocted dharma. But real dharma this is: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji . . . this is most confidential dharma|You can manufacture so many other dharmas - that is not dharma; that is your concocted dharma. But real dharma this is: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji . . . this is most confidential dharma.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you try to understand in a different way, if you want to give a different interpretation of Bhagavad-gita, that may be a manifestation of your scholarship, but that is not Bhagavad-gita. By your scholarship, you can manufacture some idea|If you try to understand in a different way, if you want to give a different interpretation of Bhagavad-gita, that may be a manifestation of your scholarship, but that is not Bhagavad-gita. By your scholarship, you can manufacture some idea.]]

=== The Reality of Māyāvāda Illusion ===
The impersonalists argue that the Absolute Truth is ultimately formless or void, and that God Himself falls under the spell of illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically defeats this Māyāvādī philosophy, asserting that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is infallible and eternally full of spiritual varieties.

* [[Vaniquotes:The Buddhist philosopher, they say, "Ultimately, everything is zero." And the Mayavadi philosopher says, "Not zero, but imperson." But actually that is not fact. There is everything variety and personal|The Buddhist philosopher, they say, "Ultimately, everything is zero." And the Mayavadi philosopher says, "Not zero, but imperson." But actually that is not fact. There is everything variety and personal.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There are some theories - that is not fact - that ultimately the Absolute Truth is impersonal|There are some theories - that is not fact - that ultimately the Absolute Truth is impersonal.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This is a false theory that when God falls down He becomes a jiva, and when He is again revived in His original position, He becomes God. This is nonsense theory. It has no meaning. God never falls down|This is a false theory that when God falls down He becomes a jiva, and when He is again revived in His original position, He becomes God. This is nonsense theory. It has no meaning. God never falls down.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When it is said that the living entities are bewildered, the Mayavadi philosophers ascribe this bewilderment to the Supreme Lord. But that is not applicable. The Lord is never bewildered. That is the difference between personalists and impersonalists|When it is said that the living entities are bewildered, the Mayavadi philosophers ascribe this bewilderment to the Supreme Lord. But that is not applicable. The Lord is never bewildered. That is the difference between personalists and impersonalists.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:God cannot be under the influence of anything so that He may fall down. That is not God|God cannot be under the influence of anything so that He may fall down. That is not God.]]

=== The Standard of a Bona Fide Guru ===
A genuine spiritual master is not someone who performs magic tricks or invents new methods of meditation for profit. Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly defines that a bona fide ''guru'' simply repeats the exact instructions of Kṛṣṇa without alteration, never claiming to be God himself.

* [[Vaniquotes:Spiritual master does not manufacture his own ideas. That is not spiritual master. Spiritual master is he who speaks exactly the words which is spoken by Krsna. That is the secret. You cannot change|Spiritual master does not manufacture his own ideas. That is not spiritual master. Spiritual master is he who speaks exactly the words which is spoken by Krsna. That is the secret. You cannot change.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Guru never manufactures idea that "You do this and give me money, and you'll become happy." That is not guru. That is another process of earning money|Guru never manufactures idea that "You do this and give me money, and you'll become happy." That is not guru. That is another process of earning money.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Guru should be worshiped as God, but guru will never claim that he is God. That is not guru. Guru will always claim that he is servant of God|Guru should be worshiped as God, but guru will never claim that he is God. That is not guru. Guru will always claim that he is servant of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The bona fide spiritual master, who has also heard the sruti-mantras, or Vedic knowledge, from his undisturbed acarya, never presents anything that is not mentioned in the Vedic literature|The bona fide spiritual master, who has also heard the sruti-mantras, or Vedic knowledge, from his undisturbed acarya, never presents anything that is not mentioned in the Vedic literature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority. Then he's spiritual master|One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority. Then he's spiritual master.]]

=== Conclusion ===
To make genuine spiritual progress, one must first learn to identify and reject the countless illusions that parade as truth in the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses absolute clarity to sweep away the darkness of speculative science, impersonal philosophy, and concocted religion. By forcefully stating "that is not," he protects sincere seekers from the deceptive theories of atheistic scientists and the false prestige of unqualified ''gurus''. He reveals that working endlessly for temporary bodily comforts is not success, and attempting to approach God for material gain is not pure devotion. Ultimately, by clearing away all these misconceptions, Śrīla Prabhupāda illuminates the single, uncompromising path of truth: complete surrender and loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, exactly as received through the authorized disciplic succession.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:That_Is_Not|That Is Not]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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