All Fools‘ Day or April 1st Fools Day is generally celebrated around the world to play some pranks or tricks on others. The whole mood is to lighten the atmosphere. Nowadays, even corporate entities are tempted to jump into the fray in order for some sales mileage.

Philosophically speaking, however, this concept is not to be taken lightly at all. No one likes to be called a fool, especially a person in power. Today, we shall see how three categories of people are befooled by the illusory energy, Maya.

According to Vedic wisdom, every living entity within this material world is under the influence of avidya, ignorance, and as such deserves to be called “foolish.” Everyone in this world is, by default, ignorant. Even Brahma, the first-born, was ignorant until he was given knowledge by Sri Krishna.

Thus, no one should be proud of his knowledge. A living entity might desire, “If I get the opportunity to obtain the post of Brahma, I can create a big universe.” Thus he might receive the body of Brahma. A small insect thinks, ‘If I can create a small hole within this room, I can live very peacefully and eat.’ Thus Brahma desires to create a universe, we desire to create a skyscraper, and an ant desires to create a hole in a room, but the quality of the work is the same. We are all fools, however, because we do not realize that because these things are material, they will not last. Because of ignorance we think, “This job will be very nice. Settling in such a country will be very nice.” We initiate some desire, and then we work accordingly. This results in so many difficulties. To become Brahma is not a very easy thing. Brahma is such a big post, and it is given to a very qualified living entity who is highly advanced in austerities and penance. But he is also a living entity like us.

Let us see the three key areas of governance, science, and philosophical study. If asked, “Are you happy with your government?” most people around the world would answer negatively. Why? The answer is that most politicians and administrators are just ignorant about how to make their citizens happy. The devatas, or demigods in charge of the various departmental activities that maintain this material creation, are but assistants to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When an incarnation of Godhead descends on this planet, demigods like the sun-god, the moon-god, or the King of heaven, Indra, all join Him. Consequently, the incarnation of Godhead is able to act for the departmental demigods to keep the planetary systems in order. The protection of the earthly planet is dependent on proper rainfall, and as stated in the Bhagavad-gita and other scriptures, sacrifices are performed to please those demigods who are in charge of rainfall.

Therefore, the proper execution of yajna, sacrifice, is required. Previously kings would induce all the citizens to engage in such sacrificial activities so that there would not be scarcity or distress. In Kali-yuga, however, in the so-called secular state, the executive branch of government is in the charge of so-called kings and presidents who are mostly ignoramuses and opportunists, oblivious to the intricacies of nature’s causes, and ignorant of the principles of sacrifice. Such persons simply make various plans, which always fail, and the people subsequently suffer disturbances.

What about science, scientific progress, and the scientific community? In history, you’ll never find that anybody has overcome the laws of material nature by his own effort. Therefore, the modern scientific world is trying to conquer the laws of material nature by puny scientific arrangement and baffled again and again.

Lastly, we see few individuals who are interested in philosophy. During the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, there was a great scholar called Prakashananda Sarasvati, who had thousands of disciples. He took exception to Mahaprabhu’s dancing and singing the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in public and rebuked Him for pandering to popular taste. Mahaprabhu replied that His spiritual master considered Him a fool, and therefore dissuaded Him from dry study, and instead instructed Him to focus on the holy names of Krishna.

Was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu a foolish person? No. In His childhood He was known as Nimai Pandita, the greatest learned man. Even when He was sixteen years old, He defeated another very learned person from Kashmir. He was a reputed scholar and was very famous. Prakashananda Sarasvati knew this fact.

What is the purpose then, of presenting Himself as a fool and rascal? The idea is that in this age, 99.9% of the population are fools and rascals. Therefore, it is very difficult for them to understand what the purpose of Vedanta is. Lord Mahaprabhu, identifying with them, is representing Himself as one such fool and rascal.

—Syamananda Dasa