Crossing Beyond Illusion’s Currents 141

such a hard burden that they cannot bear it. Because their lusty desires
have created heavy work that puts them always in trouble, Krsna comes
to introduce the system by which one can get relief from this con-
tinuously troublesome life.

Religion consists of the laws of God. People who do not know this
think that religion means faith. But although you may have faith in some-
thing and I may have faith in something, and although I may believe you
and you may or may not believe me, that is not religion. There is even a
supposedly religious mission that says, ‘‘You can manufacture your own
way.”” Yata mata tata patha: ‘‘“Whatever you think is right, that is right.”
This is their philosophy. But that is not science. Suppose Iam a madman.
Is whatever I think all right? How could this be? ‘‘Two plus two equals
four’’ is science. If I believe that two plus two equals five or three, does it
become true? No. So there are laws of God, and when there is dharmasya
glanih, deviation from these laws, we suffer. Just as we might suffer by
violating the laws of the state, as soon as we violate the laws of God we
are subjected to so many tribulations.

Now, how are we to get free from these tribulations? Krsna comes to
free us from them by giving us bhakti-yoga. Krsna recommends, ‘‘Do
this,’ and if we do it we shall get relief. Prahlada Maharaja mentions that
this bhakti-yoga consists of nine items:

Sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau

bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha

tan manye ‘dhitam uttamam

‘‘Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form,
qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them,
serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship,
offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord
one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other
words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words) —these nine pro-
cesses are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his
life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be
