The document discusses material problems and their spiritual solutions. It argues that the real problems of life, such as birth, old age, disease and death, cannot be avoided or solved through material means alone. True happiness and perfection can only be achieved by following spiritual knowledge and approaching God, who as the creator of the universe understands the real purpose of life. Scientific and technological advances may provide temporary comforts but do not solve the fundamental problems of life. An enlightened spiritual consciousness is needed to perceive God's governance of the world and find the ultimate solutions to suffering.

1. Material Problems and Spiritual Solutions

2. “He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination.” [BG 16.23]

3. The Logic of Geeta 16.23 If one doesn’t follow the authority (scripture) then one does as one likes (accepting and rejecting). Whose to say what we really like when our perception of reality is vitiated by 4 defects: imperfect senses, prone to illusion, commits mistakes, and cheating propensity Because of defects we cannot reach perfection, nor become happy, nor achieve the Supreme Destination. We require descending mercy: God, Scripture, Spiritual Mater, and Saintly persons

4. Understanding the Real Problems of Life Real problems are problems for every specie. A real problem has the following criteria: 1) It is common to all 2) Nobody wants it 3) Nobody can avoid it

5. Death “In that diseased condition the dying person’s eyes bulge due to the pressure of air from within, and his glands become congested with mucus. He has difficulty breathing, and there is a rattling sound within his throat…thus he dies most pathetically.” SB 3.30.16-18

6. Old Age “ This frightful situation cannot be remedied by any person in this material world. My lord, it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as eternal time [kāla] that has approached us all… Despite your unwillingness to die and your desire to live even at the cost of honor and prestige, your miserly body will certainly dwindle and deteriorate like an old garment.” SB 1.13.19 & 25

7. Disease We may cure one disease for sometime, but we can’t eradicate disease.

8. Birth Birth is an extremely painful experience for the living entity. For 9 long months, human fetus lies crapped within the darkness of the womb, scorched by mother’s gastric fire. Hungry worms in the abdominal cavity torment the child. Child passes urine and stool in the same pack. Such is the misery of birth.

9. Perception of the Evil of the Four Problems of Life Lord Krishna says in the Gita that it is very important for every sane mane human being to “[perceive] the evil of birth, death, old age, and disease…” Unless there is perception of these evils we go on trying to enjoy the material world unconsciousness of our precarious situation.

10. The Three-Fold Miseries Some argue: “The problems of birth, old age, disease, and death come only once in a while. We can just ignore them and enjoy life for the remaining time.” However, at every moment we are suffering due to a least one of the following three-fold miseries: Adhyatamika-Klesha Adhibhautika-Klesha Adhidaivika-Klesha

11. Adhyatmika-Klesha: Miseries caused by one’s own mind and body Body and mind give rise to innumerable problems In year 2000, in America, 19 million youths were suffering from mental illness; everyday 1200 youths were attempting to commit suicide and 1/10 th of them were sucessful.

12. Adhibhautika-Klesha: Miseries Caused by Other Living Beings Even if one’s body and mind are healthy, other living being, i.e. enemy, boss, collegue, relative, family member, terrorist, bed bug, mosquito, etc., is sure to bring some misery.

13. Adhidaivika-Klesha: Miseries Causes by Nature December 26, 2004 Tsunami: killed about 150,000 people in 1 day and left millions homeless in 9 countries 2008 Cyclone: 43,000 and still counting…

14. The Need to Approach God The need for spiritual knowledge, i.e. a spiritual solution to the real problems of life, is to first understand that we are all searching after happiness at every moment in our lives. If there’s a creator to the creation, then what logically follows is that the creator knows for what purpose the material world exist and therefore, the best solution can be offering by such a creator only. Spiritual solution means that offered by God, Krishna.

15. One thing is for sure: We’re Not God! Can we confidently say “I get what I want” and “I don’t get what I don’t want”? “ Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?” SB 11.10.17

16. We’re Definitely Not in Control If a person could really control his destiny, why would he create problems for himself? Napoleon Bonaparte Chris Reeves Rockefeller Mohammed Ali Even the greatest of the great personalities have to deal with the problems of life. Therefore, real human life is to inquire how to stop the problems of life.

17. Cover Up is Not a Solution All the advancement is science and technology are orientated for eliminating or reducing the problems of life and increasing the comfort of life. Despite all efforts, suffering appears to be increasing and happiness ever receding like a mirage in a dessert. “Scientific advancement” means “Newer and more ingenious ways to cover up the reality.”

18. The False Glare of Advance Society Thanks to science, we have more sophisticated technological gadgets-iphone, ipod, lap-top, airplanes, etc.-give a superficial covering of comfort and advancement in life. Beyond the razzle-dazzle, the problems of life still persist, i.e. birth, death, disease, and old age and thus people are not any happier.

19. Perplexities of Material Life “ A materialistic person, thinking himself very advanced in intelligence, continually acts for economic development. But again and again, as enunciated in the Vedas, he is frustrated by material activities, either in this life or in the next. Indeed, the results one obtains are inevitably the opposite of those one desires.” SB 7.7.41

20. Solution Today-Problems Tomorrow Many scientific inventions have apparently increased the comfort of man, but they have given rise to secondary problems. What is solution today is the cause of the problem tomorrow. Examples: 1) Automobiles 2) Cell Phones 3) Fast Food/Restaurant Industry

21. Real Solution Requires A Change in Consciousness “[One] cannot solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.”-Albert Einstein

22. No Such Things as Material Solution to Material Problems Science gives only patch up solution to cover up problems, but does not help solve the problems. Despite technological growth, man has not become happier because the problems created by technology cause further complications nor has technology solve the real problems of life. Modern educated men are purchasing the attractive comforts of materialistic life at the expense of ignoring knowledge of the soul and God. Such a life with no proper direction will only make one more miserable now and in the future.

25. Spiritual Solution is the God Approach to Life

26. “ Although there are many remedies by which to get out of miserable life, any such remedies in the material world are more miserable than the miseries themselves. Therefore I think that the only remedy is to engage in Your service. Kindly instruct me in such service.” SB 7.9.17

27. Perceiving the Master of the Universal Government Did everything start from a “big bang” or “big brain”? When asked how the universe began, people simply murmur, “big bang”. Whenever there is big bang due to some bomb blast, you can be sure of two things: Somebody created the explosion The explosion caused damage and destruction

28. The 4 Aspects of Creation In any type of creation, four aspects are always considered: Creator (painting/painter; design/designer; creation/creator) Form (Every creation has a specific design that makes it unique) Ingredients (Different elements/ingredients are required for any creation) Purpose (The impetus behind every creation)

29. Has a creator, ingredients, a form and a purpose Has a creator, ingredients, a form and a purpose

30. Has No Creator No Form No Ingredients No Purpose

31. Big Brain vs. Big Bang Big Bang Theory: “Everything comes from a point (singularity) of infinite temperature, infinite density, infinitesimal size that is physically indescribable, mathematically unverifiable, and beyond all conceptions of time and space. After the explosion, in the course of billions of year, everything randomly comes together in perfect order by chance.” “ It should be emphasized that no theory of the origin of the solar system has as yet won general acceptance. All involve highly improbable assumptions.”-Encyclopedia of Britannica

32. Faith: A Foundational Necessity Krishna instructs in Geeta 17.3: “The living entity is composed of faith.” Faith is a foundational necessity in order to progress in any field of knowledge either material or spiritual. Knowledge of whom to place one’s faith can be known by buddhi, discrimination or reason. Faith in God and the scriptures he manifest is necessary for gaining solution to the problems of life.

33. Empirically Appreciating the Presence of Superior Intelligence in the Universe It can easily be seen that everything is working under the control of a superior brain. The arrangements in nature are perfectly ordered, not completely random, indicating the careful planning of a “scientific and engineering brain.”

34. Gov’t of Country/ Universal Gov’t HOME MINISTRY (LAW AND ORDER) Laws of Nature: As you Sow so shall you reap

35. Gov’t of Country/ Universal Gov’t Supplying Medicines for diseases Ayurvedic Herbs supplied naturally

36. Gov’t Country/ Universal Gov’t Powerhouse Sun and Moon

37. Gov’t of Country/ Universal Gov’t Finance Ministry Gold, Diamonds, Silver Pearls

38. God’s Pharmacy A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

39. A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

40. Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

41. Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm cells to overcome male sterility.

42. A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

43. What is the Caused of Suffering Just as a criminal breaks the law and is subject to punishment, similarly the foolish living entity who tries to enjoy separate from God and the regulations outline in scriptures are punished by nature.

44. The Goodness in Suffering The symptom of suffering is good because it gives us an opportunity to look for the root cause. When our bodily system is disturbed, it gets heated up showing fever, bitterness in tongue, restlessness of mind, and body so we can take immediate remedial action. The symptoms of suffering are thus good because it indicates I’m doing something wrong and need to find a solution.

45. Returning to Harmony Despite our prolonged endeavors for happiness, suffering persists Because we are in a foreign atmosphere. A fish out of water with comforts and luxuries can never enjoy, nor can a man feel as safe and comfortable high up in the airplane or in the midst of the vast Atlantic Ocean as much as he feels on land.

46. Returning to Harmony The Soul is in a foreign atmosphere in the material world and is, therefore, suffering accordingly. Happiness comes by re- Harmonizing one’s life in a way conducive for returning to the original spiritual atmosphere.

47. Geeta: The Art of Living We have to learn the art of living in harmony with God’s teachings. Then we can become happy even while being in this world and can eventually be reinstated in our original position in the spiritual world.

48. The Transcendental Manual Just as a particular machine comes with an instruction manual that show us how to use that particular instrument, Gita teaches us about the purpose of life, creation, the material bodies and mind, right and wrong actions, etc., like a transcendental manual.

49. Simple Steps for Harmonizing Our Lives with God and Nature Developing attachment to the relationship with the message of Gita, the messenger of Gita (Guru/sadhu) and the object of Gita (Krishna). Chant the holy names of the Lord everyday: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Thank the Lord before eating your food. Make a program for performing activities that are in line with the principles of God Consciousness.

50. Thank You Very Much Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Your Life Will Be Sublime