Answers to 5 Questions of Life

This book, Fundamental Teachings of Krishna Consciousness, is a combination of five articles based on answers to the five most important questions of our lives.

These crucial questions are not new, but generally people are not interested to know the answers. Of course, there are some who do not even think about these questions. Then there are some who know these questions but are indifferent to the answers.

The fundamental teachings of Krishna consciousness are based on answers to these very important questions of life. A truly intelligent person will be inquisitive to learn the answers to them in order to improve the quality of their life.

This book will lead readers from the first steps of self-realization to the end. The Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has said, "The first step of self- realization is to ask: "Who am I?" This book therefore starts with this question: "Who am I?"

The next step on the path of self-realization is that we must know where we are situated. Is this material world our real home or there is a better place? In this regard, we must also know why the living entities have come to this material world from their original place, the spiritual world. The spiritual world is the kingdom of God and this material world is compared to the prison in God’s creation.

We need to know that this material world is a place of punishment that is why there is so much suffering. But it is a prison to bring about true rehabilitation. To strive to be happy in this material word, therefore, is the greatest illusion because it is not possible to be perfectly happy here. Sri Krishna (God) has said, "Dukhalayam aswasatam". This means that this material world is a place of suffering and it is temporary. Real happiness is in the spiritual world where God lives with His pure, loving devotees and it is our real home.

As human beings, we have a general tendency to learn about the world and life around us. A perfect human being tries to know about God. However, there are so many different concepts about God and it is a subject that bewilders most of us.

Among all other enquiries, to know "Who is God?" is the top question. Some of us believe in God and some do not. For those who believe in God, the answer to the question "Who is God?" is very important. However, the whole world is confused about the answer! That is why this book includes a article on "Who is the God?"

This information about God has been taken from Vedic literatures because no other scriptures give more detailed information. These Vedic literatures are the most authentic, ancient knowledge known to human society, spoken by authoritative people, and followed by greatly learned personalities.

Every civilized human being sets a goal of life. To have a goal or purpose is very natural to us all. From an ant to a greatly exalted being— we are all looking for happiness. The common goal of life for everyone, therefore, is to be happy. But in this material world everyone is trying to be happy by eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. This book includes an article explaining how these four goals are not the real goals of this most precious human life, which has been obtained only after many, many lives in other forms.

We will explore in this book what is the real goal of life. However, just knowing the goal of life will not be sufficient. It is also necessary to know the process of how to attain the real goal of life.

This book will give you the answers to all these most important questions of life: Who am I? Where am I? Who is God? What is goal of life? How do I reach that goal?

I hope you enjoy exploring the real questions of life and the answers contained in this publication. They will be of great benefit to your happiness.

**Contents and Sample Pages**