60 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION,
study of authoritative books on science and philosophy? Rascal gurus try
to avoid these things. We must understand that we are all born rascals
and fools and that we have to be enlightened. We have to receive
knowledge to make our lives perfect. If we do not perfect our lives, we
are defeated. What is this defeat? The struggle for existence. We are try-
ing to obtain a better life, to attain a superior position, and for this we are
struggling very hard. But we do not know what a superior position
actually is.

Whatever position we have in this material world must be given up.
We may have a good position or a bad position; in any case, we cannot re-
main here. We may earn millions of dollars and think, ‘‘Now I am in a

good position,”’ but a little dysentery or cholera will finish our position. If
the bank fails, our position is gone. So actually there is no good position
in this material world. It is a farce. Those who try to attain a better posi-
tion in the material world are ultimately defeated because there is no bet-
- ter position. The Bhagavad-gita [14.26] says what the better position is:
mam ca yo ’vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
Sa gunadn samatityaitan
brahma-bhiyaya kalpate
‘“One who engages in the spiritual activities of unalloyed devotional ser-
vice at once transcends the modes of material nature and is elevated to
the spiritual platform.”’

Is there any science that gives us the knowledge by which we may
become immortal? Yes, we may become immortal, but not in the
material sense. We cannot receive this knowledge in so-called univer-
sities. However, there is knowledge contained in the Vedic scriptures by
which we may become immortal. That immortality is our better position.
No more birth, no more death, no more old age, no more disease. Thus
the guru takes on a very great responsibility. He must guide his disciple
and enable him to become an eligible candidate for the perfect position—
immortality. The guru must be competent to lead his disciple back home,
back to Godhead.
