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as the panacea for all problems. They are living in a fool’s paradise depending on methods and techniques that
will never succeed. How can they control Krishna’s divine material nature which is impossible to overcome or
comprehend completely.

The false sense of egotism which engenders selfishness and possessiveness (the I, me and mine syndrome) has
become vastly inflated in the modern materialistic culture. It had led to the continual struggle for existence in
human society due to fierce competition to control assets and people. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
clarifies the struggle for existence:

And they are suffering here. Manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati (BG 15.7). They have, somehow or
other, they have come in contact with this material nature, and each and every one of these living entities, they
are making, having a hard struggle for existence. But under the spell of the illusory energy, they are thinking we
are happy. Although whole day and night, they are unhappy. Their desires are not fulfilled. They want something,
but they are forced to accept something else. This is going on. This is called hard struggle for existence. Nobody's
satisfied. There is always disruption. In this moment, I am your friend. Next moment, I am your enemy. This
moment, I am your husband or wife. Next moment, no. Don't see my face. I'll not see your face. Divorce. So these
things are going on. So this is called struggle. I am wanting something, but I am accept, I am forcefully being
bound to accept something else. This is called struggle. So this is going on. (Lecture on BG 10.1 -- New York,
December 27, 1966)

By the force of nature’s laws of karma, people are compelled to accept something other than what they want.
They remain dissatisfied, frustrated, resentful, hateful, reculsive and negative. This is the formula for
unhappiness and alienation. We eventually may learn that we are not the ultimate controller. We are controlled
by time, the laws of nature (karma), the three modes of nature, misconceptions, illusion or maya, four defects
of every living entity, three types of suffering (miseries caused by the body, other living entities and natural
catastropies controlled by the demigods), weapons of mass distraction (social media), illicit sex, drugs,
gambling/speculation, eating flesh, etc. We surrender to all these willingly or unwillingly due to ignorance.

The unexpected paradox of life is that we may free ourselves of these nasty controllers by surrendering to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. Our position is to be controlled either by force of ignorance and
illusion to the above controllers; or, if we willingly choose to surrender to Lord Krishna we become free of the
struggle for material existence. Lord Krishna is the ultimate controller of all controllers. He can remove all
obstacles to our surrender to Him and eventually give us liberation from all contraining material conditions.

Lord Krishna promises:

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī / mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante / māyām etāṁ taranti te

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those
who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. (Bg 7.14)

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto / mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te / pratijāne priyo ’si me

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to
Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. (Bg 18.65)

labhante brahma-nirvāṇam / ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇa-kalmaṣāḥ

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