First of All You Must Know What is the Truth
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the primary duty of human life is to inquire into the Absolute Truth rather than remaining satisfied with temporary, relative truths. He challenges the modern scientific and philosophical approach of "searching" for truth, noting that truth is eternal and already established by the Supreme Authority. This article explores the necessity of accepting the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa, through the descending process of disciplic succession to achieve the perfection of existence.
Speculation Versus Knowledge
Śrīla Prabhupāda critiques the modern tendency to "discover" truth, arguing that if one is still searching or making discoveries, they do not yet possess knowledge. He explains that real truth is constant and existing, whereas mental speculation only leads to conflicting philosophies and uncertainty.
- Making discoveries means you do not know what is truth. But it is good credit for you that you are trying to advance. That's it. That we agree.
- Truth is never discovered. It is already there. But you do not know what is that truth. That is credit that you are making advance towards truth, but you do not know what is truth. That is a fact.
- The philosophy, it is said, nasau munir yasya (CC Madhya 17.186). One philosopher is differing from another philosopher. Just now today Syamasundara has purchased one book about different philosophers. So that, you also cannot ascertain what is truth.
- Philosophy which does not search ultimately what is truth, what is God, that philosophy is mental speculation. And the knowledge of God without philosophy is simply sentiment. They should be combined.
Krsna is the Absolute Truth
The ultimate conclusion of all inquiry is that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the source of all existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that real intelligence is recognizing that whatever Kṛṣṇa says is the truth, and surrendering to Him is the perfection of knowledge.
- If you are a jnani, a philosopher, speculating what is the truth, ultimate truth is Krsna.
- Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66). That is simple truth. Believe in Krsna. That means Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever He says is truth. That's all. This is intelligence: "Whatever Krsna says, that is truth."
- We are searching after truth, what is the truth, what is the relative truth. But when you come to Krsna, that is Absolute Truth. Sarva-karana-karanam (Bs. 5.1). This is truth.
- Sraddha-sabde visvasa sudrdha niscaya. This is basic platform, that "What Krsna says, that is truth." Krsna bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya: "If I follow Krsna, then my business is complete." This is intelligence.
Necessity of Authority
Because the human mind is limited, one cannot understand the vast spiritual subject matter without guidance. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that we must approach those who are tattva-vit, or knowers of the truth, such as the mahājanas and the bona fide spiritual master.
- First of of all you must know from the authorities what is the truth. Then you speak. Don't speak nonsense. It will not help you or your followers. That is called anukirtaya.
- All these mahajanas - svayambhur naradah sambhuh - they also follow the same principle (sarva-dharman parityajya). Therefore we cannot understand very easily what is the truth of religious system, but if we follow these mahajana, then we can understand.
- From whom you'll have to inquire? From a person who has actually seen what is tattva, what is truth. From him.
- This brahmana attracted the attention of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was illiterate, and he could not read even one word. What is the truth in it? The same thing: guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya. He took guru's order very seriously.
Truth Regarding the World and Self
Understanding truth involves realizing that the material world, while emanating from the Absolute, is not the property of the living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the world is not mithyā (false) but is misunderstood when we try to enjoy it separately from the Lord, who is the actual proprietor.
- Jagat is not mithya. How it can be mithya? Janmady asya yatah (SB 1.1.1). It is coming, emanating, from the Absolute Truth. It is truth. Therefore we have to find out the truth, what is that truth.
- What is that truth? The truth is that isavasyam (ISO 1), everything is the God's creation. And Krsna, the Supreme Lord says, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam (BG 5.29). He is the proprietor. But we do not understand that truth, that He is the proprietor.
- We are behaving with this material world with an enjoying spirit, as our enjoyable things. That is mithya. It is not your enjoyable thing. It is Krsna's enjoyable thing. That is truth. We do not know what is truth.
- To understand the truth, what is the truth there, that without something this body is dead, no more value, and with that something the body is so valuable. So one who is intelligent, he'll try to find out what is that truth.
Conclusion
To attain the success of human life, one must move beyond the platform of mental speculation and scientific discovery, which are inherently flawed and incomplete. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Absolute Truth is Kṛṣṇa, and by following the instructions of the Lord and His pure representatives, one can know the truth and mold their character accordingly. Real knowledge is to recognize that everything belongs to God and that our constitutional position is to serve Him, thus freeing ourselves from the illusion of material enjoyment.
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 What is the Truth. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.