Description of Autumn 139
his calling only, everyone takes to the study of the Vedas to acquire actual
knowledge. During the rainy season, many small ponds, lakes and rivulets
become filled with water; otherwise the rest of the year they remain dry.
Similarly, materialistic persons are dry, but sometimes, when they are in a
so-called opulent position, with a home or children or a little bank balance,
they appear to be flourishing, but immediately afterwards they become dry
again, like the small rivulets and ponds. The poet Vidyapati said that in
the society of friends, family, children, wife, etc., there is certainly some
pleasure, but that pleasure is compared to a drop of water in the desert.
Everyone is hankering after happiness, just as*in the desert everyone is
hankering after water. If, in the desert, there is a drop of water, the
water is there of course, but the benefit from that drop of water is very
insignificant. In our materialistic way of life, we are hankering after an
ocean of happiness, but in the form of society, friends and mundane love,
we are getting no more than a drop of water. Our satisfaction is never
achieved, as the small rivulets, lakes and ponds are never filled with water
in the dry season.

Due to rainfall, the grass, trees and vegetation look very green. Some-
times the grass is covered by a certain kind of red insect, and when the
sreen and red combine with umbrella-like mushrooms, the entire scene
changes, just like a person who has suddenly become rich. The farmer then
becomes very happy to see his field full of grains, but the capitalists—who
are always unaware of the activitics of a supernatural power—become un-
happy because they are afraid of a competitive price. In some places
certain capitalists in government restrict the farmer from producing too
much grains, not knowing the actual fact that all food grains are supplied
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. According to the Vedic injunc-
tion, eko bahiinam yo vidadhati kaman, the Supreme Personality of God-
head maintains this creation; therefore, He arranges for a supply of what-
ever is required for allliving entities. When there is population increase, it is
the business of the Supreme Lord to feed them. But persons who are
atheists or miscreants do not like abundant production of food grains,
especially if their business might be hampered.

During the rainy season, all living entities, in the land, sky and water,
become very refreshed, exactly like one who engages in the transcendental
loving service of the Lord. We have practical experience of this with our
students in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Before
becoming students, they were dirty looking, although they had naturally
beautiful personal features; but due to having no information of Krsna
consciousness they appeared very dirty and wretched. Since they have
