One Must Return to Earth
The desire for elevation to higher planets is a common theme in Vedic fruitive rituals and, ironically, in modern space exploration. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals the ultimate futility of such endeavors. He explains that within the material universe, no position is permanent. Whether one reaches the moon or the abode of Lord Brahmā, the law of material nature dictates that "one must return to earth" once the merit that propelled them there is exhausted. This article explores the mechanics of this return and the wisdom of seeking a destination beyond this cycle.
Expiration of Pious Credits
Elevation to heavenly planets is compared to a vacation. Just as a person can stay in a luxury resort only as long as they have money, a soul can reside in the heavenly planets only as long as their puṇya (pious credits) lasts. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that when these credits are used up, the soul is "forced to return" to earth. This applies even to the demigods, who must return to work like ordinary men after their term of enjoyment expires.
- When the period of one's enjoyment in the heavenly planets is terminated because of the limited extent of the results of one's pious activities, one must return to earth.
- There is no practical benefit in promoting oneself to the heavenly planets. Indeed, from the heavenly planets one must return to this earth after one has exhausted the results of his pious activities.
- Even the demigods must return to earth to work like ordinary men when the results of their pious activities expire.
- After reaching the moon, if a soul does not utilize the opportunity for promotion to better planets, he is degraded and forced to return to earth or a similar planet.
Biological Process of Return
The return to earth is not merely a change of location but involves a specific biological transmigration. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the process found in the Upaniṣads: the soul falls down with the rainfall, is absorbed into plants and creepers, is eaten by animals or humans, and is transformed into semen. Finally, the soul is injected into a womb to take birth again. This distinct cycle highlights the helplessness of the conditioned soul caught in the wheel of saṁsāra.
- After one's enjoyment due to pious activities is finished, one must return to this planet in rainfall and first take birth as a plant or creeper, which is eaten by various animals, including human beings, and turned to semen.
- Those who are not yogis but who die at an opportune moment due to pious acts of sacrifice, charity, penance, etc., can rise to the higher planets after death, but are subject to return to this planet - Earth.
No Security in Brahmaloka
Even Brahmaloka, the topmost planet in the universe, offers no permanent sanctuary. One may reach there through great sacrifices or the practice of pañcāgni-vidyā, but if one fails to cultivate pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they must eventually return. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that unless one is completely freed from material bondage, even the highest material position is a temporary station. True security is found only in the spiritual world.
- One should not endeavor to wander to different planetary systems within this universe, for even if one goes to the topmost planetary system, Brahmaloka, one must return again.
- Even if one is promoted to Brahmaloka, if one is not freed from material bondage one must return to this planet earth and continue in the miserable condition of material existence.
- The practice of sacrifice called pancagni-vidya, recommended in the Katha Upanisad, enables one to achieve Brahmaloka, but if, in Brahmaloka, one does not cultivate Krsna consciousness, then he must return to earth.
True Intelligence
Who is truly intelligent? According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, it is the person who understands this cycle of return and refuses to be allured by it. He defines the self-realized soul (sa ātma-dṛk) as one who knows that any material promotion ends in a fall. Therefore, such a person does not waste time trying to go to the moon by machines or to heaven by rituals. Instead, they focus on the path that leads out of the material universe entirely.
- One who is fully aware of this truth (if one is promoted to Brahmaloka, but he is not freed from material bondage he must return to this planet earth) is self-realized (sa atma-drk), but aside from him, everyone suffers in the cycle of birth and death.
- This understanding (even if one is promoted to Brahmaloka, if one is not freed from material bondage one must return to this planet earth) is one of true intelligence, and anything contrary to this is but a cause of unhappiness.
- Whether one goes to the moon by modern mechanical arrangements or by performing pious activities, one must return to earth. That is clearly stated in this verse (SB 7.15.50-51) and explained in Bhagavad-gita - BG 9.25.
Conclusion
The statement "one must return to earth" serves as a reality check for all material ambitions. It reminds us that in the material world, what goes up must come down. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges us to break this repetitive cycle not by seeking higher altitudes within the universe, but by taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which alone guarantees that once we leave this body, we never have to return to the miserable conditions of birth and death.
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 Must Return to Earth. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.