Category:You Cannot Change
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda extensively explains the strict, unalterable nature of both material destiny and the soul's constitutional position. Materially, our allotted quota of happiness and distress, our bodily species, and our duration of life are rigidly fixed by karma and the laws of material nature; one cannot change these simply by working hard or making worldly plans. Philosophically, Śrīla Prabhupāda redefines the true meaning of dharma. Genuine dharma is not a temporary faith that one can change at will, but rather the eternal, intrinsic characteristic of the soul—rendering service—just as liquidity is the unchangeable characteristic of water. Furthermore, he stresses the absolute nature of Vedic authority: no one is permitted to change the teachings of śāstra or the instructions of the spiritual master. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides one glorious exception to all material laws: while a conditioned soul cannot change their material destiny independently, they can completely transcend these unbreakable laws of māyā by fully surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- The Fixed Nature of Material Destiny: Material life is strictly governed by destiny, meaning that our duration of life, bodily circumstances, and allotted happiness or distress are already fixed by past actions and cannot be changed by mundane endeavor.
- The Unchangeable Characteristic of the Soul: True dharma is not a faith that can be adopted or abandoned; it is the permanent, unchangeable characteristic of the living entity to render service, regardless of external religious labels.
- The Inviolable Authority of Scripture: The injunctions of Vedic literature, the words of the Supreme Lord, and the instructions of the spiritual master are absolute and perfect, meaning no one has the authority to change or misinterpret them.
- Transcending Destiny Through Devotion: While the strict laws of material nature cannot be changed by ordinary means, a pure Vaiṣṇava who fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa is lifted above material destiny and freed from karmic reactions.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: True Dharma and the Karma You Cannot Change.
Pages in category "You Cannot Change"
The following 46 pages are in this category, out of 46 total.
A
- A pig has a certain type of body, and his eatable is stool. This is destined. You cannot change it - "Let the pig eat halava." That is not possible
- Actually, dharma cannot be changed. The example is given: just like water. The characteristic of water is liquidity. So you cannot change this quality of water, liquidity
- As soon as it (water) becomes solid, again it liquefies; again it becomes liquid. Because that is his dharma. That is called dharma - liquidity. Similarly, dharma means which you cannot change
D
- Dharma is translated in English as "religion," but actually, it does not convey the real import of dharma. As I have many times explained in these meetings, that dharma means some particular characteristic which you cannot change
- Dharma you cannot change. Just like water. Water is liquid. You cannot make it solid. If water becomes solid, then it is not in the natural state
E
- Even if you get more money, the other circumstances will force you to remain in the same condition as you were fifty years ago. Because you are destined. This is called destiny. You cannot change your destiny. That is not possible
- Everything is going on systematically. That is called destiny. Destiny means that so long we are under the laws of nature, that is to happen. You cannot change it. That is not possible. Such law can be changed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
I
- I have received back the edited papers on Srimad-Bhagavatam. Brahmananda & others cannot change the style. They want to see if there is any grammatical discrepancy
- If destiny cannot be changed, then why was Prahlada Maharaja urging this (taking up KC)? Generally, "destiny" means your material future. That you cannot change. But even that can be changed when you are in spiritual life
- If you accept Bhagavad-gita as the book of authority, you cannot change the meaning. That is not allowed. What right? If you have got some opinion, if you have got some philosophy, you can write in your own book
O
R
- Real happiness can be achieved in the spiritual world. Not in the material world. So certain amount of happiness and certain amount of distress we have to enjoy and suffer. You cannot change it. This is the law of nature in this material world
- Religion - is not the exact translation of the word dharma. Religion is understood in English dictionary as a kind of faith. But dharma does not mean that. Dharma means your characteristic, which you cannot change
- Religion means the characteristic. Characteristic... You cannot change your characteristic. In whatever circumstances you may be, the characteristic will continue. That is the meaning of religion
S
- Sex life is not denied, because eating, sleeping, mating and defending, that is the necessity of the body. You cannot stop it. So there is concession that you can have sex life only for begetting children - for no other purpose
- Spiritual master does not manufacture his own ideas. That is not spiritual master. Spiritual master is he who speaks exactly the words which is spoken by Krsna. That is the secret. You cannot change
- Still I cannot change my mind to love You
- Stone is solid. You cannot change the quality of solid. This unchangeable quality is called dharma. That is really Sanskrit significance
- Suppose I am now Hindu. I become a Christian or Muhammadan. That, my real business of rendering service, does not change. So dharma means that which you cannot change
T
- That (destiny, which is already settled up) you cannot change. Otherwise, everyone is trying to become very rich, very important. There is no scarcity of endeavor. But not that everyone is becoming like that. That is called destiny
- That is sastra. Not that "So many years have passed and it has become old. Now let us reform it and put it into new way." No. You can put the same thing in a new way, but you cannot change the principle
- That supreme authority is God, and whatever He gives, the rules and regulation, that is called religion. You cannot change it
- The duration of life is limited. It is already destined. According to our past activities, we have got a body whose duration of life is already fixed up. The standard of happiness and distress, that is also fixed up. You cannot change it
- The man who is put into certain cell, he cannot change at his will without the superior authority. So Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that don't try to change this cell, from this cell to that cell. That will not make you happy
- There are so many institution, daridra-narayana-seva. But why there are daridras still? That means you cannot change
- There is no need of adding further Deities. Once installed it cannot be changed. Do not make it childish, too much addition of Deities will encumber us. At first, either Panca Tattva or Gaura-Nitai Deities may be installed
- There must be veda-pramana, sabda-pramana: evidence from the Vedas and from the explanatory Vedic literature. Otherwise, there is no evidence. Your statement is not valid: you cannot change the original sruti-smrti
- Today you are Muslim. Tomorrow you can become Christian. You can change your faith. But that is not religion. Change of faith or accepting some faith, that is not religion. Religion means which you cannot change
W
- We cannot change the quality of printing for the matter of a little change in the price. This printing is not approved by me. Repeatedly changing of printers is not at all good. We cannot approve any printing less than quality of printing of Dai Nippon
- What is depending on faith, that is not dharma, that is not religion. The quality which you cannot change, that is religion
- What is depending on faith, that is not dharma, that is not religion. The quality which you cannot change, that is religion. Therefore, the definition of dharma is given in the Vedic literature: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam
- What is the value of material knowledge? Because you cannot change the order of transmigration of the soul from one body to another. That you have to accept according to your karma. So, therefore, material knowledge will not help me
- Whatever you have got by pious or impious activities, that you cannot change. It is not possible. But you can change your position, this material position, by Krsna consciousness. That you can change. Other things you cannot change
Y
- You cannot change (instruction from spiritual master). You cannot improve. That is rascaldom. A spiritual master also does not change the words of Krsna and makes any improvement upon it
- You cannot change my voice
- You cannot change your destiny simply by working hard like asses and dogs. No. But you can utilize your special human energy for improving your Krsna consciousness. That's a fact
- You cannot change your destiny. If you have to be, have to work like a coolie, even after becoming Ph.D. you'll have to work like a coolie. You cannot change it
- You cannot change. But you can change by one process. What is that? Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. If you surrender to Krsna, then you can get out of this control of maya
- You have to select a sacred place; then you have to sit with half-closed eyes and concentrate on the tip of your nose. You cannot change your posture. There are many rules and regulations which cannot possibly be followed at the present
- You haven't got to follow blindly. Spiritual master will not place before you anything unreasonable. But the process is that you cannot change the order of spiritual master. You cannot argue
- You may put him (one dog) on the throne; that's doesn't matter. But the doggish quality, you cannot change. Similarly this svabhava. Svabhava means the material nature