Part 1: When We Ignore the Errors in Our Lives
The Programmer Who Ignored the Error
The word "Error" is a nightmare for any software developer. One of our new joiners, a fresher, once did something amusing. I had assigned her a task to write a program that would generate a report in a file. Very soon, she informed me that she had completed the code. I was delighted by her speed. However, when I opened the file, it was completely blank!
I asked her whether she had encountered any errors, and she denied it. When I reviewed her code, I discovered the reason. She had inserted a statement: "On Error Resume Next."
For those unfamiliar with computer programming, this statement instructs a program to continue executing after certain runtime errors instead of stopping and displaying the error. When I asked her why she had used it, she explained that she had been getting an error whenever she ran the program without it!
Isn't that amusing? Instead of identifying and correcting the root cause of the error, she had chosen to suppress it. She was happy because her program no longer notified her of the problem, even though the report remained empty.
Do We Do the Same in Our Lives?
Her approach was understandable because she was inexperienced. However, if we think deeply, we will realise that many of us follow a similar approach in our own lives.
Whenever our conscience, the scriptures, or a genuine well-wisher points out a flaw in our behaviour, we often become defensive. Instead of examining whether we need to change, we find reasons to justify our actions. We continue making the same mistakes while convincing ourselves that everything is fine.
In effect, we have programmed our lives with a statement: "On Error Resume Next."
We do not eliminate our errors. We simply stop paying attention to them.
The errors in our lives, or our shortcomings, become apparent when we take the path of spirituality, study the scriptures, and associate with bona fide spiritual teachers belonging to an authentic Sampradaya.
Why Do We Resist Spiritual Guidance?
Our problem is that we often dislike hearing about our shortcomings. We want to believe that we are doing everything correctly and prefer to hear only what makes us feel good. Consequently, we may keep spirituality at a distance because it challenges our assumptions and asks us to change.
But genuine spiritual guidance is not meant to make us feel inferior or guilty. Its purpose is to help us understand who we are, recognise the habits that prevent us from progressing, and learn how to overcome them.
A doctor who identifies an illness is not our enemy. Similarly, a spiritual teacher who helps us recognise our shortcomings may be offering us an opportunity for improvement.
The real question is not whether we have flaws. The question is whether we are willing to recognise them and work towards correcting them.
When Harmful Habits Become Normal
One of my colleagues once said, "Spirituality is impractical because scriptures tell us not to kill, and in today's world, we cannot survive without non-vegetarian food."
This statement made me think. Why do we so readily dismiss spiritual principles when they challenge our existing habits?
In the Krishna consciousness tradition, compassion towards living beings, regulation of the senses, and disciplined spiritual practice are important principles. The four regulative principles followed by ISKCON devotees are no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex.
These principles may appear restrictive to someone accustomed to a different lifestyle. But before rejecting them, should we not try to understand their purpose?
Something does not become beneficial merely because it is popular. Nor does something become impractical merely because it requires self-discipline.
Our habits are shaped by our surroundings, our upbringing, our friends, and the examples set by those around us. When a behaviour becomes commonplace, we may begin to accept it without questioning whether it is beneficial.
Many of us have read religious scriptures, but reading alone does not necessarily mean that we have understood their teachings. What matters is whether we understand their message and apply it in our lives.
Without such understanding, we may struggle to guide the next generation. Children encounter habits and ideas long before they are mature enough to evaluate them. Society may proudly call every change progress or freedom, yet we must ask ourselves whether every socially accepted practice actually leads us towards a better life.
People often fail to recognise how strongly their habits, social conditioning, and surroundings influence them. We may reject spiritually minded people while choosing companions who reinforce our existing misconceptions. Without realising it, we may allow our association to draw us deeper into a materialistic way of life.
Last Sunday, I was waiting for my train on a railway platform. In the crowd, there was a group of school students. One student was extremely thin, yet he had his collar turned up, sleeves folded, chest puffed out with pride, and an expression of arrogance on his face. He was chewing tobacco. He approached another boy, who seemed to be the leader of the group, and complained that his throat was burning because of the tobacco. The leader calmly assured him that the irritation was normal because it was his first time. He told him that if he continued, he would gradually become accustomed to it and stop feeling the irritation. Instead of advising him to stop, he encouraged him to continue.
What struck me was not merely that the boy was chewing tobacco, but that his friend was encouraging him to continue despite the discomfort he was experiencing. The friend had interpreted a warning sign as something that would eventually disappear through repeated exposure. This is how harmful habits often become normalised. What initially causes discomfort gradually becomes familiar. Eventually, we may stop questioning the habit altogether.
We also see people intoxicated and lying on roadsides, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Even in sophisticated social settings, the aftermath of excessive drinking can reveal the unpleasant consequences of what people initially considered enjoyment.
When Ignorance Feels Like Bliss
People may believe that their lives are blissful simply because they do not understand the consequences of their actions.
Srila Prabhupada expressed this idea in a memorable statement:
"It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss."
In a lecture delivered at the World Health Organization in Geneva on June 6, 1974, Srila Prabhupada discussed the resistance faced by those who preach against meat-eating and intoxication. He observed that people in positions of influence may not welcome teachings that challenge popular habits.
We are getting a better response from the Western countries than in India. In India, we see that the leaders, they do not like it. They are now opening beef shop, wine shop, and we are preaching "No intoxication, no meat-eating." So actually, we are not very favorable to their propaganda. (laughs) They don't like us, the leaders. Now there are big, big signboards. In Juhu we have got a center, and the government has opened beef shop, very big. And wine shop, you'll find everywhere. And we are preaching, "No intoxication, no meat-eating." So how they'll like us? That is the difficulty. "It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss." But still, we are struggling.
This illustrates a recurring difficulty in spiritual life. When our habits are challenged, we may defend them rather than examine them. We find it difficult to accept that something we have practised for years might need to change.
After all, we reason, our educated relatives, friends, society, community, film stars, and sports stars cannot all be wrong!
And then we implement the statement "On Error Resume Next", which, in simple English, means: IGNORE all our flaws.
Our Personal Experience: Changing Our Lifestyle
When my wife and I joined ISKCON, we began to understand the science of life through studying the scriptures rather than merely reading them. We recognised the limitations of our earlier lifestyle and consciously decided to bring positive changes into our lives.
By following the four regulative principles, namely no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling, and no illicit sex, along with regularly chanting the Holy Name, we began to experience positive changes in our lives.
Some of our old friends suddenly became concerned about us after years of little or no contact. They had not even called or messaged us when my wife was undergoing surgery. Yet, after we joined ISKCON, they reappeared and said:
"We are very concerned about you people. You have joined ISKCON, but be very, very careful. ISKCON will make you a vegetarian. They did the same with my relatives!"
My wife and I could not help laughing at the statement. However, rather than ridiculing such people, we should feel compassion for them. When we try to explain our reasons, they may respond with criticism or ridicule.
Our duty is to continue chanting sincerely and praying that Krishna may be merciful and give everyone real intelligence.
Part 2: Five Reasons We Ignore Our Errors
Why do we find it so difficult to acknowledge our shortcomings? Let us consider five reasons that often prevent us from recognising and correcting the errors in our lives.
1. Hypocrisy and Double Standards
Popular films such as OMG and PK have encouraged many people, especially young people who learn about life more from celebrities than from scriptures, to question religious practices. Some conclude that religious rituals are nothing more than superstition.
Whenever devotees offer something to the Lord, people may ask, "Why not serve the poor instead?" Serving those in need is certainly important. But we must also examine whether we apply the same concern consistently to other areas of life.
Consider the enormous sums spent on luxury, entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, and extravagant celebrations. These expenses rarely provoke the same criticism as a donation made to a temple, church, or mosque.
Why do people become so vocal about a small religious donation while remaining silent about far greater expenses that could also have been used to help those in need?
This is the irony of a society that sometimes applies its moral standards selectively.
The issue is not whether religious institutions should be questioned. They should be open to sincere questions and accountable for their conduct. The issue is whether we examine our own choices with the same honesty with which we examine the choices of others.
It is easy to find faults in a spiritual class. It is much harder to acknowledge the errors in areas that give us pleasure.
2. The Illusion of Knowing Everything
Modern education has given humanity tremendous knowledge and practical capabilities. Scientific investigation has helped us understand many aspects of the material world. However, acquiring knowledge in one field does not automatically mean that we understand every aspect of life.
A person may be highly educated, professionally successful, and scientifically knowledgeable while remaining uncertain about fundamental questions: Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What happens at death? What is the relationship between consciousness and the body?
Scientific knowledge develops through observation, experimentation, reasoning, and the revision of earlier explanations when new evidence becomes available. The history of science includes genuine advances as well as claims that were later discredited.
The Piltdown Man controversy, for example, involved a purported fossil discovery that was eventually exposed as a forgery. This episode reminds us that individual scientific claims can be mistaken and must be examined critically.
In 1922, amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed that he had discovered the "missing link" between ape and man. In 1953, scientific investigations demonstrated that the Piltdown Man specimen was a forgery involving a human skull, an orangutan jaw, and fossil teeth.
Source: Piltdown Man.
The broader question is whether we remain intellectually humble enough to investigate matters that extend beyond our existing understanding.
Scientific inquiry investigates the material world through observation, experimentation, and reasoning. However, these methods ultimately depend on our material senses and the instruments that extend their capabilities. Our senses are imperfect and limited; therefore, the knowledge acquired through them also has limitations.
Spiritual knowledge, on the other hand, addresses fundamental questions of identity, consciousness, values, and the ultimate purpose of existence through the eternal wisdom revealed in the Vedic scriptures. The knowledge contained in the Vedas is eternal, meaning that its truths were valid in the past, remain valid in the present, and will continue to remain valid in the future. This is in contrast to scientific theories, which are subject to revision and evolution as human understanding advances. From the perspective of the Vedas, knowledge of the body and material nature alone is not sufficient. We must also understand the living being who inhabits the body.
The problem, therefore, is not modern education or scientific investigation. The problem arises when we consider knowledge acquired through our imperfect senses to be more authoritative than the eternal knowledge revealed in the Vedic scriptures.
True intelligence begins when we recognise the limits of our present understanding and remain willing to learn.
For further reading, see Veda - The Manual of Life.
3. Ignorance of Our True Identity
How many of us have genuinely wondered, Who are we?
We are often absorbed in eating, sleeping, mating, defending, earning, and pursuing material comforts. These activities have their place in life, but when they consume our entire attention, we may never investigate the deeper purpose of our existence.
The Bhagavad-gita encourages us to look beyond the temporary body and understand the eternal nature of the living being.
If we identify ourselves exclusively with the body, our priorities will naturally revolve around bodily comfort, social recognition, possessions, and temporary relationships. But if we begin to understand our spiritual identity, we can gradually develop a deeper perspective on life.
This is why spiritual inquiry is not merely a religious activity. It is an investigation into one of the most fundamental questions of our existence: Who am I?
Many people ask whether spirituality is simply blind faith or superstition. Before answering that question, we must understand the difference between faith, blind faith, and superstition. Every person, including scientists and atheists, relies on assumptions and forms of trust in daily life. The important question is whether our beliefs have a sound foundation and whether we are willing to examine them critically. Spirituality, too, deserves to be understood through its teachings, reasoning, practice, and authentic sources of knowledge.
Read more: Is Spirituality Actually Blind Faith?
We must ask ourselves: Why do we do what we do?
4. The Goat Syndrome: Forgetting the Reality of Death
In the Mahabharata, when the Yaksha asked Yudhishthira, "What is the greatest wonder in the world?", Yudhishthira replied that although people see others dying all around them, they still believe that they themselves will live indefinitely.
Consider a familiar scene outside a roadside meat shop. A butcher slaughters a goat while other goats remain nearby, eating leaves without understanding the danger surrounding them. They continue eating as if nothing unusual is happening.
Every month, if not every day, we hear or read about someone's death. Many deaths are sudden and unexpected. We may feel sad for a while, but soon return to our usual routines, pursuing wealth, possessions, and material comforts.
Deep within, we behave as though death will not come to us, at least not in the near future. We know that life is temporary, yet we rarely live with that knowledge.
Hardly any of us seriously considers that death could come at any moment.
This is what is called the Goat Syndrome. We remain absorbed in immediate pleasures while ignoring the most certain fact about our material existence.
The purpose of remembering death is not to become fearful or pessimistic. It is to become more thoughtful about how we use the time available to us.
If life is temporary, should we spend it entirely pursuing possessions, pleasures, recognition, and temporary achievements? Or should we also investigate what remains meaningful beyond these temporary pursuits?
Awareness of death can become a powerful impetus for spiritual inquiry. It reminds us that human life is precious precisely because it gives us an opportunity to seek answers to life's deepest questions.
Read more: I Was a Goat, Are You?
5. Attachment to Our Lifestyle
For many people, intoxicants provide a temporary sense of freedom, pleasure, or comfort. One of my relatives once said that he could not imagine a life without smoking and alcohol.
We should be intelligent enough to question whether dependence on a substance is genuine freedom.
Read more: Let's Get Addicted.
People often fail to understand that our habits gradually shape our character. What we repeatedly choose to do influences the person we become.
What we do shapes who we are.
Real freedom does not mean doing whatever the mind demands. If we cannot give up a habit even when we understand that it is harmful, are we truly free?
The Bhagavad-gita teaches us the importance of regulating the mind and senses rather than becoming controlled by them.
Spiritual discipline is not simply about giving things up. It is about developing a higher purpose that makes us less dependent on temporary pleasures.
When we understand this, regulation no longer appears to be merely a restriction. It becomes a means of gaining freedom from habits that control us.
Part 3: Correct the Errors, Do Not Ignore Them
Conclusion: Remove the Errors, Do Not Ignore Them
Human life is rare and precious. We can always find reasons to postpone spiritual inquiry, justify our habits, and continue living as we have always lived. But the real question is whether we are using this valuable opportunity to understand ourselves and the purpose of our existence.
We must have the humility to recognise that we may be mistaken. Our education, social position, popularity, and long-established habits do not automatically make our choices correct.
When the scriptures or a genuine spiritual teacher point out a shortcoming, we have a choice. We can become defensive and search for reasons to justify ourselves, or we can examine the teaching sincerely and consider whether we need to change.
This does not mean blindly accepting every claim or condemning ourselves for every mistake. It means developing the intelligence to distinguish between what helps us progress and what holds us back.
Let us return to the programming analogy with which we began.
A programmer who ignores every error may feel relieved because the error messages have disappeared. But a blank report is still a blank report. The absence of an error message does not mean that the program has achieved its purpose.
Similarly, ignoring the flaws in our lives does not mean that we have overcome them.
We must try to REMOVE the errors in our lives, not IGNORE them.
Through sincere spiritual inquiry, the study of authentic scriptures, the association of genuine devotees, and the practical application of spiritual teachings, we can gradually identify our shortcomings and work towards correcting them.
The next time our conscience, the scriptures, or a well-wisher points out something that needs improvement, let us resist the temptation to activate the statement:
"On Error Resume Next."
Instead, let us have the courage to examine the error, understand its cause, and take the necessary steps to correct it.
That is how we can make meaningful progress and use this precious human life for its true purpose.
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