Moral goodness is not enough, because simple morality will not satisfy the soul. One has to go above morality- to Krishna consciousness. Of course, in this material world morality is taken as the highest principle but there is another platform which is called the transcendental (vasudeva) platform. Man's highest perfection is on that platform and this is confirmed in Srimad- Bhagavatham. However, because Western philosophers have no information of the vasudeva platform, they consider the material mode of goodness to be the highest perfection and the end of morality. But in this world even moral goodness is infected by the lower modes of ignorance and passion. You cannot find pure goodness (sudda satva) in this material world, because pure goodness is the transcendental platform. To come to the platform of pure goodness which is the ideal, one has to undergo austerities (tapasa brahmacharyena samena cha damena cha). One has to practice celibacy and control the mind and senses.
There is another process for coming to the platform of pure goodness and that is Krishna consciousness. If one becomes Krishna conscious all good qualities automatically develop in him. Automatically he leads a life of celibacy controls his mind and senses and has a charitable disposition.
In this age of Kali, people cannot possibly be trained to engage in austerity. Formerly a brahmachari would undergo austere training. Even though he might be from a royal or learned family a brahmachari would humble himself and serve the spiritual master as a menial servant. He would immediately do whatever the spiritual master ordered. The brahmachari would beg alms from door to door and bring them to the spiritual master claiming nothing for himself. Whatever he earned he would give to the spiritual master because the spirtual master would not spoil the money by spending it for sense gratification - he would use it for Krishna. This is austerity. The brahmachari would also observe celibacy and because he followed the directions of the spiritual master, his mind and senses were controlled.
Today, however, this austerity is very difficult to follow. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given the process of taking to Krishna consciousness directly. In this case one need simply chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama,Rama, Hare, Hare and follow the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. Then one immediately rises to the platform of pure goodness.
Excerpts from "Beyond illusion and doubt'- by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedantaswami Prabhupada- reproduced here by this menial servant.
Vande Guroh Sricharanaravindam! Hare Krishna!
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