The Sky Beyond the Universe 47

ances, austerities, yogic meditations and so on are
no longer required, and for one who does not reach
it, all penances and austerities are a useless waste of
time. The human form of life is an opportunity to
get this boon, and it is the duty of the State, of the
parents, teachers and guardians to elevate those who
have acquired this human form of life to attain this
perfection of life. Simply eating, sleeping, mating
and quarrelling like cats and dogs is not civilization.
We should properly utilize this human form of life
and take advantage of this knowledge to prepare our-
selves in Krsna consciousness so that twenty-four
hours of the day we will be absorbed in Krsna and at
death at once transfer to that spiritual sky.

purusah sa parah partha
bhaktyd labhyas tv ananyaya
yasyantahsthani bhiitani
yena sarvam idam tatam

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is great-
er than all, is attainable by unalloyed devotion.
Although He is present in His abode, He is all-
pervading, and everything is situated within Him.”
(Bg. 8.22)

If we are at all interested in reaching that supreme
abode, the process, as indicated here, is bhakti,
Bhaktya means devotional service, submission to the
Supreme Lord. The root word for bhakta is bhaj,
which means service. The definition of bhakti given
in the Narada-paiicaratra is “‘freedom from designa-
tion.” If one is determined to get out of all the des-
ignations that are attached to the pure spirit soul,
