SB 1.3.22 - The Staircase to Heaven
Bhagavat-Sangi-Sangasya
SB 1.3.22 - The Staircase to Heaven
There is the story of a great engineer and scientist who had devised a master design of a staircase that can take you to heaven. Wow! No need of fire sacrifices, no need of austerities, no need to give charity. Simply anyone and everyone could just climb up the stairs and Lo! You are in Heaven, the Great Paradise, where there are beautiful girls, mouth watering delicacies, any kind of pleasure you could even think of at your beck and call.
He was one of the pioneers who advocated the advancement of material civilization with the help of material science and technology. Millenniums after this great scientist failed in his attempt, the human civilization was successful in deploying human space vehicles up to the moon and mars, if not heaven. But in principle, it was that great scientist who set the legacy and ideals for all scientists to follow.
Curious to know who that great ingenious mind was? We lovingly know him as Ravana, the 10 headed demon king!!
Pious work entails sacrificing the demands of the mind and senses. And for such persons there are heavenly planets. Ravana wanted to make this universe his kingdom and enter into the heavens, the higher planets. But he didn’t care anything for doing pious activities to deserve entrance. By his own prowess he wanted to build a staircase to Indra’s abode, bring his armies up there & conquer.
Like the advanced scientists and engineers of today’s world, Ravana wanted to enjoy and create wonderful comforts & wonderful prestige for himself by his control. To the extent that he wanted to enjoy the Goddess of Fortune Sita, for his own greedy, selfish, lusty purposes. Everything within this creation, all resources in the world is the energy of the Lord, Sita. This Ravana is living in your heart & my heart today! We want to be the enjoyer of the property of God. We have been making friends with this Ravana in the form of countless greedy desires to exploit the resources of God's creation. If we try to enjoy even the slightest thing for our own sense gratification, we are actually trying to enjoy Sita. But Sita is meant only for Ram’s enjoyment.
Vayu, Varuna these great demigods millions of times greater & more powerful than us, they were scared of Ravana. They could not defeat him. They had to go to the ocean of milk & pray to the Supreme Lord “Please come, you are the only one who can do it. He is causing too much trouble.” So similarly we have to follow in their footsteps. We have to throw up our hands and say we cannot do this. My dear Lord Ram, You are the only one who can save us.
There is no difference between the Name of Ram & Ram Himself. When we call out in the state of true sincere helplessness the Name of God it is Gods guarantee that He will manifest Himself within our mind and cleanse our hearts of all of these unwanted qualities to lord it over material nature. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord & allow Him to come into the heart through His incarnation of the Holy Names Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare.