Choosing a Spiritual Master
77
tūrṇam yateta na pated anumṛtyu yāvan niḥśreyasāya viṣayaḥ khalu sarvataḥ syāt
“This human form of life is obtained after many, many births, and  although  it is not permanent, it can offer the highest benefits. Therefore a  sober  and intelligent man should immediately try to fulfill his mission  and  attain the highest profit in life before another death occurs. He  should  avoid sense gratification, which is available in all circumstances.”
Let us not misuse this human life in the vain pursuit of material enjoyment, or, in other words, for the sake of only eating, sleeping, fearing,  and  sensuous activities. The Ācāryadeva’s message is conveyed by the  words  of Śrī Rūpa Goswami [ Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu  1.2.255, 256]:
anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktam vairāgyam ucyate
prāpañcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo vairāgyam phalgu kathyate
“One is said to be situated in the fully renounced order of life if he lives  in  accordance with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He should be without attachment for sense gratification and should accept only what is necessary for  the  upkeep of the body. On the other hand, one who renounces things  which  could be used in the service of Kṛṣṇa, under the pretext that such  things  are material, does not practice complete renunciation.”
The purport of these  ślokas  can only be realized by fully developing the  rational  portion of our life, not the animal portion. Sitting at the feet of  the  Ācāryadeva, let us try to understand from this transcendental source  of  knowledge what we are, what is this universe, what is God, and what is  our  relationship with Him. The message of Lord Caitanya is the message  for  the living entities and the message of the living world. Lord Caitanya  did  not bother Himself for the upliftment of this dead world, which is  suitably  named Martyaloka, the world where everything is destined to  die . He appeared before us four hundred fifty years ago to tell us something of the transcendental universe, where everything is permanent and