Category:Near Future

Theme Analysis

The concept of the near future appears frequently in Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings and letters, carrying both profound philosophical weight and immense practical encouragement. On a spiritual level, the Bhagavad-gītā assures that a sincere practitioner who controls their senses, gives up anger, and constantly endeavors for perfection will achieve liberation in the Supreme in the very near future. The spiritual path is not an endless, uncertain struggle; Kṛṣṇa quickly rewards those who dedicate themselves to Him. Even those situated in lower modes or adversarial roles can gradually cleanse their hearts and expect to see the transcendental form of the Lord in the near future.

However, the near future also brings unavoidable karmic reactions for material actions. The histories of great personalities like Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Bhīma demonstrate that the stringent laws of nature swiftly deliver the results of past deeds, whether they manifest as imminent danger, loss of royal power, or divine retribution. Time waits for no one, and the miseries of the material world are always foreboding danger just around the corner.

In his practical management of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly used the phrase "near future" to inject boundless optimism into his disciples. Whether a devotee was struggling alone in a new city or dealing with a lack of audience, Śrīla Prabhupāda guaranteed that Kṛṣṇa would send men, money, and success in the very near future. He outlined grand visions that he expected to manifest shortly, including printing 100,000 magazines monthly, establishing the Bhakti-śāstrī examinations, traveling across the globe with massive saṅkīrtana parties, and turning places like Hollywood into holy spiritual centers.

• Spiritual Guarantees: Sincere devotees who control their senses and endeavor for perfection are guaranteed to achieve faith and ultimate liberation in the very near future.
• Karmic Inevitability: The laws of material nature ensure that the reactions to one's actions, whether auspicious or dangerous, will manifest without delay.
• Institutional Optimism: Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly encouraged his disciples by assuring them that their struggling centers would become highly successful in the near future.
• Grand Visions for Preaching: The imminent expansion of the movement included organizing global saṅkīrtana parties, printing massive quantities of literature, and standardizing Vedic education.

• Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Near Future - Assurances of Spiritual Success.