David Bruce Hughes

Everyone is in search of the greatest good, the highest benefit obtainable in this human form of life. And one who is compassionate desires this benefit for others also. The supreme benefit imaginable is complete freedom from all suffering, with everlasting, unconditional happiness and enjoyment. This benefit may seem unattainable, but actually anyone can reach it through bhakti. But first one must know the method for obtaining it.

We may get some material opulence such as wealth, fame, beauty, power, knowledge or renunciation, but these things are all flickering and temporary. No one can retain material opulence because the material world is changeable and uncertain, and we are all subject to death. The supreme benefit, the topmost good as defined above must therefore be something spiritual, for only spiritual things are eternal and never pass away.

When we speak of spirit, we refer to consciousness. Consciousness is the main symptom of spirit, and it is fundamentally different from matter. Everything material has a cause, and is conditioned by circumstances. But consciousness has no material cause, nor is it conditioned by anything, just as the sky is never changed by the clouds passing through it day after day. Therefore pure consciousness is causeless and absolute.

Materialistic philosophers and scientists, if they recognize the existence of consciousness at all, theorize that consciousness arises from certain combinations or states of matter. However, they cannot demonstrate the synthesis of consciousness or life in the laboratory. In fact, the presence and action of consciousness cannot be caused, measured or predicted by any material means.

Therefore consciousness is completely distinct from matter; in fact, consciousness is the cause of matter, not the other way around. As soon as the soul, the source of consciousness and life, leaves the body at death, the body becomes inert and soon disintegrates. This proves that the material body exists because of the presence of the soul. Similarly, the enormous and inconceivable material universe in which we find ourselves is caused by the presence of the Supreme Consciousness, or God, the Supreme Soul.

Conscious entities or souls are all personal. Just as you and I are conscious spirit souls and therefore persons, similarly the Supreme Soul is also a person: a person named Kṛṣṇa. The name Kṛṣṇa means the source or reservoir of all pleasure, and certainly the Supreme Soul is the origin of everything enjoyable.

Therefore the greatest benefit is attained by cultivating a personal, spiritual relationship between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul, Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure and enjoyment. This is also the perfection of consciousness.

In our present state of consciousness we are identified with the material body and mind, and therefore we are suffering unnecessarily. Since material existence is the cause of suffering, to obtain the highest benefit we must withdraw our consciousness from contact with matter and engage it in the activities of pure spirit.

Spiritual activities consist of ecstatic relationship of the pure conscious soul with Kṛṣṇa in five features, namely neutrality, service, friendship, parenthood and conjugal love. These five kinds of relationships are also found in this material world, but they are covered with various kinds of suffering. Spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is devoid of the imperfections of material relationships because it has no contact with the material mind and senses.

This spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is called bhakti or bhakti-yoga, and it is the source of the highest benefit, the greatest good obtainable. Anyone can cultivate their transcendental relationship with Kṛṣṇa simply by hearing and chanting His Holy Name, qualities and pastimes in the association of bhakti-yogis. This simple process leads step-by-step to the highest good.

Bhakti-yoga is so easy, even a child can do it. Even a dog or other animal can hear the melodious chanting of the Holy Names of God, and benefit spiritually. Yet these transcendental Holy Names contain the complete power of Kṛṣṇa. God is absolute, therefore His Holy Name is no different from His personal self. In other words, God is personally present in His Holy Name. This is the great secret of bhakti-yoga, and it is also the source of the highest benefit, the greatest good.

Our original inherent eternal spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is automatically revealed simply by hearing and chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa, or "Hare Kṛṣṇa." Anyone who tries this process can feel the effect immediately. There is no need to explain this elaborately. When we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in pure love, everything is revealed, just as the sun reveals everything when it rises in the morning.

Chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa automatically cleanses our consciousness of the false identification with matter, leading to the cessation of all misery and suffering. Simultaneously it situates us in our unique, personal spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure and enjoyment. This transcendental relationship provides eternal, unconditional bliss to the fortunate bhakti-yogis who have developed their dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

In this life we see that when a man becomes extremely wealthy, he may create some charitable foundation or trust for the benefit of the public. Similarly, when someone discovers the wealth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness through bhakti-yoga, he automatically wants to share this unlimited opulence with others. Therefore we are presenting this Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa, in the knowledge that this simple process of hearing and chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa will provide the highest benefit, the greatest good, to all people who are suffering in the material world.

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