Spiritual Truth and Common Sense
Srila Prabhupada had a unique ability to present profound spiritual truths not as mystical dogmas, but as matters of simple, undeniable logic. He frequently appealed to "common sense" to cut through the skepticism of the modern mind. By drawing parallels between everyday experiences—like driving a car or observing a garden—and cosmic realities, he demonstrated that the existence of God, the soul, and the laws of karma are not just matters of faith, but rational conclusions available to any sane person.
The Logic of Creation
A primary argument Srila Prabhupada uses is the logic of design. If one walks past a house and sees that the lights are on, the garden is weeded, and the structure is maintained, common sense dictates that there is someone living there or managing it. It would be irrational to assume the house manages itself. Similarly, when we observe the vast, orderly universe—the precise movements of the sun, the changing seasons, and the complex biological machines of our bodies—common sense demands we acknowledge a Supreme Manager.
- As soon as you see house is very nicely kept... we understand there is a man. So this is common sense.
- But how things are going nicely if there is no controller? But they have no common sense.
- Therefore a sane man should admit that "This is sent by God." This is common sense.
The Soul and the Changing Body
The concept of reincarnation and the eternal soul is often treated as a complex theological belief, yet Srila Prabhupada presents it as a matter of simple observation. We all have the experience of our bodies changing—from a baby, to a child, to an adult. Yet, the "I," the observer, remains the same. Common sense suggests that if the self persists through the changes of this life, it will also persist through the final change called death.
- The body is change, I am there... This is common sense business.
- Therefore the conclusion is that I shall exist when this body is finished. That is real knowledge. And it is common sense.
- People do not understand it, very nice common sense, that the body is changing but the soul is there.
Law and Authority
In civil society, we understand that laws imply a government and a lawmaker. We cannot arbitrarily decide to drive on the left side of the road if the law says to drive on the right. Srila Prabhupada extends this logic to the universe. We are bound by strict laws of nature—birth, death, old age, disease. If we are controlled by these laws, common sense tells us there must be a Controller. To claim one is God while being kicked by material nature is, in Prabhupada's words, a lack of common sense.
- Similarly, if you cannot create the law of the state, how you can create the law of God? Common sense.
- If you are being controlled, how you become God?
The Limitations of Common Sense
While common sense is an essential tool for waking up from material illusion, Srila Prabhupada also clarifies its limits. Common sense is based on our limited experience. Some spiritual truths—such as the Lord's universal form or His inconceivable potencies—transcend our logic. In these cases, we must rely on the perfect authority of the śāstra (scripture). However, common sense is the requisite foundation; without it, one cannot even begin to approach spiritual life.
- Common sense is always imperfect, whereas the description in the sastras is always perfect and complete.
- One should have the common sense to ask why... stalwart scholars... would have spent so much time to write about Krsna.
Conclusion
A godless civilization is ultimately a civilization devoid of common sense. By ignoring the obvious signs of design, control, and spiritual identity, humanity descends into confusion. Developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness means restoring one's sanity and seeing the world as it actually is—through the lens of practical, spiritual logic.
Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani
Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Common Sense. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Srila Prabhupada's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.