“O my brothers, listen! From this early age we should meditate on the Supreme Lord. Nothing in this world exists on its own. Some say that everything has come from nature, but what does ‘nature’ mean? Whose nature is it? Nature is the power, the energy, of Shri Krishna. He can create and control millions of universes and in a moment He can destroy them. And then, in the next moment He can create them again. He is supremely powerful. Furthermore, He knows each and every one of you, but you do not know Him. Through my constant chanting and remembering the Lord, I have been able to learn a little about Him.
“We should begin spiritual life from a young age – from this very moment, right now! Don’t say, ‘I will begin tomorrow.’ It may well be that tomorrow will never come for you. Don’t waste your time in uselessly trying to enjoy temporary material life. Start from today. What you intend to do tomorrow you should begin today, and what you are going to do today, you should begin right now. Chant ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.’ Old age and disease are bound to come. And whatever you collect in this life – be it wealth, reputation or position – you will have to leave behind. You cannot take even one penny with you from this world. Do you agree?”
“Yes, we agree completely,” the boys replied. “You are certainly speaking the truth.”
“My dear friends, O sons of demons, the human form of life is temporary, whereas the soul within is eternal. This human life is meant for discovering one’s real identity – the soul – and for returning home, back to Godhead. Therefore every living entity, especially in the human form of life, should engage in devotional service to the Supreme Lord Krishna. This devotional service is natural, because Lord Krishna is the creator and master of the soul. He is the well-wisher of all living entities and the soul’s most beloved. The duty of everyone is to take shelter of the Supreme Lord and whole-heartedly engage in His service. By this the living being becomes free from all material desires and starts to taste the transcendental bliss that comes from serving the Lord with love. Thus, when one is completely liberated from material existence, one experiences real happiness in life.
“Therefore, my brothers, immediately begin meditating upon and worshiping Lord Krishna, who is supremely attractive. From this very moment begin chanting ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.’ We will all grow old and have to die. Start from the beginning of your life. Don’t waste your time in politics, duplicity, hypocrisy and so on. Remember that Shri Krishna is the Supreme Lord. He is all-powerful and He is so merciful, causelessly merciful. He has invested all His power, all His beauty, all His sweetness and all His causeless mercy in His names. So if you chant and remember these names, you will get so much benefit.”
The leader of the boys, however, challenged, “Why should we chant and meditate on the name of Krishna? We are young; why should we not play? And later we can become expert in making money and in arranging for our material comforts. This will make us happy.”
Excerpted from the Gaudiya Vedanta Publication "The Fearless Prince"
[CC-by-ND GVP]