The Slippery way to Degradation

"The Slippery way to degradation is charming at the very outset, apparently invigorating, is enriched with pseudo expectations, an apparent acquisition of chewing the cud of sweet dreams, a tantalized plane of seeming renunciation and a store-house of phantasmagoria or a high mansion of will-o-the-wisp. When false hopes are entertained and failure is realized suicide from the acme of the Everest will result and as one is falling he will meet obstruction by the uneven caves of hilly deserts. But the way of downfall from the transcendental plane is so very smooth, polished and lubricated and of marble that hardly any trace of resistance could be had during such a fall.

Krishna said to Arjuna "Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me". - BG 7.15

It has also been said by sadhus; "Enter by the narrow gate; for the other gate is wide and the way is easy but leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many".

Individuals, communities,  large and small have fallen from their lofty positions. The great societies of the past i.e. Aryan, Greek, Roman, Atlantian etc. as well as powerful individuals situated upon lofty Sofas have come and gone. You may ask "what is the cause?" Some say bad management ( politics )  others say it was destined.

The many who have fallen down are of two categories;
1. Those who have fallen due to chasing  illusions - the sense enjoyers, exploiters, etc.
2. The second group fell down ( re-birth ) from a plane of transcendence due to bad association and offenses to the holy name and the genuine sadhus. Both are products of Maya.

What have we learned?
What can I do?

"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to transcendental life, and those who find it are few".

Sri Krishna has said: "And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within oneself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me—is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion." - BG 6.47

The Point is "persons who do not render devotional service ( singing the holy name ) with genuine humility and neglecting their duty unto the primeval Lord, who is the source of all living entities, and who dwells in everyone's heart will certainly fall down from their constitutional position".

It is by great fortune that souls come to associate with and serve pure Vaishnavas on the path of bhakti-yoga (Krishna Consciousness). The ideal yogi ( devotee ) concentrates their attention on Krishna, who is called Syamasundara, who is as beautifully colored as a monsoon rain cloud, whose lotus like face is as effulgent as the sun, whose dress is brilliant with jewels and whose body is garlanded by forest flowers. Illuminating all sides is His gorgeous luster, which is called the brahmajyoti.

How do we render service to the supreme lord?

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way then by chanting this Holy name of Krishna: hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare ". - Brhan Naradiya Puran

In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.

nama vinu kali-kale nahi ara dharma
sarva-mantra-sara nama, ei shastra-marma

In this Age of Kali there is no religious principle other than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet
krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat

 "My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom. Self realization that was achieved in the Satya millennium by meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices, and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krishna can be achieved in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the holy names, Hare Krishna." - Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.51-2

It is said in the last verse of Srimad Bhagavatam; "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering".

In the Visnu Purana it is said;

dhyayan krte yajan yajnais-tretayam dvapare rcayan
yadapnoti tadapnoti kalau samkirtaya kesavam

"The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas; in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship; in Kali-yuga the same results are easily had simply by the chanting of the holy name."

As one vibrates the holy name the inner aspect of devotion gradually comes out then we shall be able to dive deep into reality. Our hearts approval will be harmonized with that of the revealed scriptures and the living saints. - BRSDG

Inconclusion, when reflecting on history we cannot blame any one society , individual  or the external environment for the fall of so-called civilized societies. What we can say is that the environment was "friendly" but as long as people maintain an exploitive attitude their vision remains cloudy and the result will be that individuals and societies will not have the ability to recognize the pure motivation of souls who represent the supreme lord and will not have enthusiasm to glorify the Supreme via his holy names. "Time and tide wait for no man" therefore all things ( Great Persons and Societies ) come and go.

Association with devoted souls and chanting the holy name, are everything.

Submitted for the pleasure of all the kind hearted devotees - Arijit Das