70 Elevation to Krsna Consciousness

the blazing fire is immediately extinguished. As a
cloud collects water from the ocean, similarly the
spiritual master collects water from Krsna’s ocean
of mercy and pours it over the blazing fire of material
existence. Thus one who bestows or distributes the
merciful rain of Krsna is called a spiritual master or
guru.

In Vedic literatures it is said that in order to
understand the transcendental science of Krsna con-
sciousness, we must try to acquire knowledge of how
to extinguish this blazing fire of problems. Scientists,
philosophers and other educated men are trying
very hard to extinguish it, but the result seems to be
bigger and bigger bombs. The karmis or fruitive
laborers are working with heart and soul, day and
night, to extinguish this fire or to diminish the
miserable condition of material existence by dint of
hard labor. The jfanis or philosophers are also
trying, but they have become disgusted and so pro-
claim, “This world is false.” Thinking this, they try
to merge into the existence of the Supreme and in
this way extinguish the fire. This is like the jackel
who tries to pick some grapes from a vine, and
when he fails, says, ““Oh, these grapes are sour any-
way.” The yogis or meditators try to gain superior
mystic power by becoming greater than the greatest,
smaller than the smallest, lighter than the lightest,
and heavier than the heaviest, but this is just so much
child’s play. With any material body—whether it be
great or small, light or heavy—the problems of
material existence still remain. In this way one may
progress from one stage to another, coming from
