Category:Avoiding Death
Theme Analysis
The struggle for survival is the most basic instinct of every living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that since the dawn of creation, everyone has been trying to attain a permanent life, yet no one within the material world has successfully avoided death. It is the ultimate equalizer. Regardless of whether one is born into a wealthy, aristocratic family, possesses great physical strength, or even resides on the highest planetary system (Brahmaloka), the stringent laws of material nature dictate that death is an absolute certainty.
Modern society is completely bewildered regarding this problem. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly critiques the futile attempts of scientists and medical professionals to avoid death through physiochemical advancements. Applying cosmetics to look young, exercising on the beach to stay fit, or taking medicines to extend life by a few years does not solve the fundamental issue. Eventually, Yamarāja claims everyone. Material independence is therefore an illusion; when death arrives and grabs a person by the neck, all so-called independence and false security instantly vanish.
In stark contrast, the entire scheme of Vedic knowledge is systematically designed around avoiding death. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that real research work is not inventing new technological gadgets, but investigating how to stop the agonizing cycle of birth, old age, disease, and death. In fact, it is the primary duty of any guardian—whether a guru, father, or mother—to teach their dependents how to achieve this ultimate liberation. The supreme remedy is devotional service. By completely finishing one's Kṛṣṇa consciousness and accustoming oneself to hearing the nectarean pastimes of the Lord, a devotee transcends the laws of karma and attains an eternal, deathless life in the spiritual world.
- The Inescapable Reality: No amount of wealth, education, physical strength, or planetary elevation can protect the conditioned soul from the inevitable arrival of death.
- The Futility of Material Science: Attempting to extend life through medical science, cosmetics, or physical exercises is ultimately useless against the cruel laws of material nature.
- The True Aim of Vedic Culture: Real education and genuine research work are exclusively focused on solving the fourfold miseries of material life: birth, old age, disease, and death.
- The Spiritual Remedy: Only by perfectly adopting Kṛṣṇa consciousness and absorbing the mind in the Lord's pastimes can one avoid the repetition of death and attain eternal life.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Avoiding Death - The Ultimate Problem of Material Life.
Pages in category "Avoiding Death"
The following 27 pages are in this category, out of 27 total.
A
- A devotee is not under the laws of karma. Therefore even a devotee's scheduled death can be avoided by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord. God protects the devotee even from the extreme danger of death
- Antakam means death. So death is called maya. You are thinking, "Now I have arranged everything. Things are going very nicely. Now I'm very happy." But, all of a sudden, the death comes. That you cannot avoid
- As long as he has intelligence & bodily strength, an intelligent person must try to avoid death. This is the duty of every embodied person. But if death cannot be avoided in spite of one's endeavors, a person facing death commits no offense - SB 10.1.48
B
- Because death is a punishment imposed in the condemned life of material existence, the Vedic culture is based on avoiding death - tyaktva deham punar janma naiti - BG 4.9
- Because you are rich man, because you are beautiful man, because you are educated man, because you are born in a aristocratic family, that does not mean that you have avoided death, old age and disease
E
- Even if you go to the Brahmaloka, where one twelve hours means thousands of four yugas, but still there is death. So we cannot avoid this
- Even if you have sufficient to eat, you cannot avoid death. So death is inevitable. That is the problem of material life. Birth, death, old age and disease
- Eventually everyone will dry up and be thrown in the fire. That is a fact. We may survive for a few years, but we cannot avoid death. In fact, it is said, - As sure as death
- Every human being dislikes meeting death, but he does not know how to get rid of death. The surest remedy for avoiding death is to accustom oneself to hearing the nectarean pastimes of the Lord
O
- One has to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the perfection of life. That is the perfection. But they do not know how to stop this repetition, neither they do know that death can be avoided
- One should know that he is suffering in birth, suffering in death, suffering in old age and suffering in disease, and one should be inquisitive as to how he may avoid the suffering. That is real research work
- One should not become guru, one should not become kinsmen, one should not become father, one should not become mother - na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum - if one cannot give lesson to the children how to avoid death. This is the duty of the guardians
T
- The duration of life may be so long years, but there is death. Death you cannot avoid within this material world
- Those who are not in knowledge, they are afraid of death. Best business is, before the death comes let us finish our Krsna consciousness perfectly. That is wanted. Death will come. You cannot avoid it
- To take birth in a nice place or a high family does not mean that one avoids undergoing the material tribulations, the pangs of birth, death, old age and disease
W
- We try to remain young by cosmetic, but that is not possible. Similarly, we want to live forever. The lady doctor was, "Yes, we can extend little more." Then what? After all, you have to die. Extend little more or little less, you cannot avoid death
- Well, everyone dies. Death is inevitable. Nobody can avoid death. "As sure as death". And therefore, I have already explained that we have to take information from the Vedas
- What is the value of your independence? Can you avoid death? Suppose you are independent. What is the meaning of this independence? When death will come, will catch you by your neck and throw you away, your independence