Becoming Free of Material Existence

Becoming Free of Material Existence
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
At present we are fallen and in danger, and in such a condition we are always trying to gratify our senses. The final result of trying to achieve happiness through the material senses is death. If we want to be delivered from this condition, we must worship the Lord under the guidance and shelter of a spiritual master.
Taking shelter of the spiritual master and accept¬ing initiation from him are gateways to devotional service. We will proceed on the path by following the mahājanas. As Bali Maharaja served the Lord by surrendering everything at His lotus feet, we will also remain eternally surrendered by offering everything at the lotus feet of our spiritual master and Lord Gauranga. By serving the spiritual mas ter and the holy name with love and devotion as surrendered souls, we will easily become liberated from material existence.
tāte kṛṣṇa bhaje, kare gurura sevana
māyā-jāla chuṭe, pāya kṛṣṇera caraṇa
If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, can he get out of the clutches of Māyā and become eligible for shelter at Krishna’s lotus feet? (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 22.25)
prabhu kahe, “vaiṣṇava-sevā, nāma-saṅkīrtana
dui kara, śīghra pābe śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa”
The Lord replied, “You should engage yourself in the service of the servants of Krishna and always chant the holy name of Krishna. If you do these two things, you will very soon attain shelter at Krishna’s lotus feet. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 16.70)
sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya
sei jīva nistare, māyā tāhāre chāḍaya
“If the conditioned soul becomes Krishna con¬scious by the mercy of saintly persons who volun¬tarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Krishna conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of Māyā, who gives him up.” (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līla 20.120)
– Amṛta Vāṇī: Nectar of Instructions of Immortality of His Divine Grace Bahk¬tisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada; Compiled by Sripada Bahkti Mayukha Bhagavat Maharaja; Adapted and Published by Isvara dasa