Burden of the Earth - The Consequences of Becoming Sinful
Material suffering is not an accidental occurrence but a direct reaction to the violation of universal laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when the human society chooses to become sinful by ignoring the instructions of the Supreme Lord, it triggers a series of natural and social disasters. This article examines the definition of sin as disobedience to divine authority and the heavy toll that such actions place upon the Earth and the future of human civilization.
Origin and Definition of Sin
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the tendency of the living entity to become sinful originates from a misuse of independence. Because we are part and parcel of God, we possess a small degree of independence; however, as soon as we disobey the words of God, we fall into transgression. Following the explanation of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, he notes that a man becomes sinful out of ignorance only. This ignorance leads to improper behavior (anācāra), which prevents the soul from entering the family of Kṛṣṇa and results in inevitable suffering.
- A person in the mode of ignorance commits many sinful activities. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami explains that a man becomes sinful out of ignorance only. The resultant effect of sinful life is suffering.
- As you violate the laws of the state and become a criminal, similarly, as you violate the laws of God, you become sinful. You become sinful. This is the definition of sin and piety. If you follow the rules of God, then you are pious.
- Because we are part and parcel of God - God is fully independent - so we have got also little particle of independence. As soon as we misuse that independence, disobey the words of God, we become sinful.
- As soon as one disobeys authority, he immediately becomes very sinful and loses his good fortune.
Reaction of Nature and Longevity
The laws of nature act immediately when a society begins to become sinful. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that as soon as people become sinful, reactions such as war, pestilence, famine, and the flu appear as a form of divine correction. Mother Earth herself restricts the supply of food grains, milk, and vegetables when she becomes overburdened by the impious activities of the population. Furthermore, the duration of human life is significantly reduced in the age of Kali-yuga because people are becoming more and more sinful, making it impossible to reach the standard hundred-year lifespan.
- As soon as you become sinful, there is reaction immediately. Immediately there will be war, pestilence, famine, flu and so on, so on.
- The idea is that there is no food problem. As the mother earth said to King Prthu that, "I am restricting," so the more you become sinful, the food supply will be stopped. This is the law of nature.
- Nowadays no one is living up to a hundred years, because as the days are going on, people are becoming sinful, and their duration of life also becoming reduced.
- Because human beings are becoming more and more sinful there will be a scarcity of rain, and naturally no food grains will be produced.
Leadership and Divine Intervention
The responsibility for a society's spiritual health rests largely on its leaders. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that if the government becomes irresponsible and sinful, neglecting brahminical culture and allowing citizens to indulge in meat-eating, intoxication, or illicit sex, the heads of state are held accountable. When the earth becomes too much overburdened by these sinful activities, it is known as bhūri-bhārāvatāra, and Kṛṣṇa appears as an avatāra to mitigate the situation. Whether it is the appearance of Paraśurāma or another incarnation, God intervenes to devastation the impious elements and rescue the world from the illusory fire of māyā.
- If the government becomes irresponsible and sinful, not caring for brahminical culture, there will certainly be an incarnation of God like Parasurama to create a devastation by fire, famine, pestilence or some other calamity.
- When people become too much sinful, the earth becomes overburdened by the sinful activities of the people. Therefore it is called bhuri-bharavatara. And Krsna comes to mitigate. This is the purpose of avatara.
- If the state head or king allows the citizens to become sinful by indulging in illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling, then the king is responsible.
- If irreligious people vote on an issue, even though it be against the principles of the sastras, the bills will be passed. The president and heads of state become sinful by agreeing to such abominable activities - meat-eating and intoxication.
Conclusion
There is no possibility of rescue for the current human civilization unless it adopts Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that if we want to become happy, we must become pious, and the highest standard of piety is to become a devotee of the Lord. By understanding that everything not connected to Kṛṣṇa is sinful, we can avoid creating the lower bodies of our next life and instead find immunity from all obligations through surrender. Only by stopping the cycle of transgression can we remove the burden from the Earth and return to our natural position of spiritual prosperity.
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 Becoming Sinful. 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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