They are Living Force, They Cannot Stay at One Place

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 

Tapoloka means those who have performed here severe penances, and they are transferred there in Tapoloka. In Tapoloka, when there is destruction, annihilation of this material world, in the Tapoloka there is no destruction. They get information, “Now annihilation has begun.” There is a great fire, and they still feel that heat, and at that time they transfer themselves to the spiritual sky. That mention we have got. So yajnair istva svargatim prarthayante.

So these materialists… Anyone, even if you go to the higher planets, still, you are materialist. Even you go to the highest planet, Brahmaloka, where the duration of life you cannot calculate, still there is death. The material pangs, birth, death, old age and disease, there is. So in the Bhagavad-gita we get all this information, where other planets are, what is the condition. Simply we have to know it from this book.

Similarly, we have got information of the supreme planet Krsnaloka, or the planet of Krsna, where you can go. The Lord says,

yad gatva na nivartante

tad dhama paramam mama^[1]:

“That supreme abode of mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. One who reaches it never returns to this material world .”

Now, these planets, these material planets, as it is mentioned here, surendra-loka… Surendra means highly qualified demigods, their planets. Surendra-lokam asnanti. Asnanti means they enjoy. And what do they enjoy? Divyan divi deva-bhogan. They enjoy godly comforts, deva-bhogan.

Now, Lord Krsna says, then what is after? The after result is, is said here,

te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam visalam

ksine punye martya-lokam vishanti

evam trayi-dharmam anuprapanna

gatagatam kama-kama labhante^[2]

So those who are so materially attached, their business is that they qualify themselves to be promoted to higher planets, undoubtedly. And there… Te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam visalam. And they enjoy life for a very, very long duration of life and godly facilities. That’s all right. But ksine punye martya-lokam visanti^[3]. Then, when their pious, I mean to say, asset of pious activities finished, then they are again driven out from that planet; they come here, to this material, I mean to say, earthly planet. And again they try here. Again they try here by sacrifices, by other means, to go there.

So Lord Krsna says these materialists, they, gatagatam kama-kama labhante, sometimes up, sometimes down. This is going on, sometimes up, sometimes down. Just like… What is called, that wheel? Sometimes go up, the boys enjoy in this way. What is the name of that wheel?

Devotee: Ferris wheel.

Prabhupada: Oh. So it is something like that. Sometime you go, sarva-ga, sarva-ga. Sarva… Jiva. Jiva means the living entities, they have got a propensity to go from here to there, there to here. That is their… Because they are living force, they cannot stay at one place. That is not their nature. Even in this life also, you Americans, you try to go to India; the Indians try to come here or some other country. This is nature. In the birds, beasts, everywhere, they want to transfer in some different… So it is going on.

So the materialists who want to go to the higher planets by pious activities, they can go there, but they will have to come back again. But what is the idea of going there? The idea of going there is the materialists, they are always seeking of better comforts of life. There is no limit, where is better comfort. In this earth also, people are trying, advancement of material… Just like in your city I see very nice building. They are being dismantled, very strong, nice buildings. When I go to the Chamber side. I see that one very nice building, very strong building. But you think that “After dismantling this building, we shall prepare another skyscraper covered by nice glasses and we will be comfortable.” That is the idea. You see?

^[1] Bhagavad-gita 15.6

^[2] Bhagavad-gita 9.21

^[3] Bhagavad-gita 9.21