Among men, each one is himself the cause of his fortune, good or bad. He is himself the builder, the architect, Fate, destiny, pre-determination, the Will of God - every one of these explanations is toppled by the principle of Karma. (BPV, p. 92)
(B.P.V. - P.92)
Stupidity is the root cause of man’s downfall. It is like sheepishness. (Prema Vahini, p. 45)
Krishna said, ‘The primary cause of your present grief is your attachment, and the basis for your attachment is ignorance. It is out of ignorance that you allow your sense organs to govern your actions. If you want to free yourself from the attachment and sorrow then you must control your senses. You have to clearly understand the nature of the sense organs. In the journey of life these sense organs are important; they are like the horses of your chariot, which can take you to your goal. But, only when you have full control over these horses will the chariot and the person riding in it, be safe. If you leave them uncontrolled it is inevitable that the chariot and its occupant will come to grief. Therefore if you want to reach the goal safely, assert absolute control over these horses that is your sense organs. (DBG, pp. 112-113)
Everyone is sure to meet death and so, everyone may be thought of as one of the dying. Yet even though they themselves are among the dying, people feel sorrow and grief when thinking of someone who has died, as if death were a totally un-usual and unexpected thing, rather than the natural conclusion that must come to all. This sorrow that comes on, particularly when someone near and dear has died, can only be there because of attachment. After knowing fully well that death is certain, if you still worry about another body, it must be due to the attachment, which is responsible for all your grief. Therefore, the primary cause for sorrow when someone died is the attachment, not love. (DBG, p. 129)
When the inquiry into the cause and effect is made from the point of view of the Cosmos, we reach the conclusion that God is the Cause and the Cosmos or Jagat is the effect. When the distinction between subject and object is transcended we become aware that it is all Pure Consciousness or Brahman, and that this is both the primary as well the subsidiary factor. That is to say, it is the Major or Primordial Nescience. That invokes both Brahman, Jagat and the mergence in Brahman. It is the Maya that causes the delusion that one originates from the other. (Sutra Vahini, p. 21)
The material Cause (UpadanaKarana) is primary: earlier than the product. It is the entire, the total basis on which the product rests. Consider a silver cup, for example. The cup has no existence apart from silver. When the silver which can be shaped into a cup is absent, the product too is absent. Silver is the material cause. In other words, before the Form (the Rupa) ‘becomes’ the ‘Being’ is and has to be. The cup is the form imposed on silver by the efficient cause, the NimittaKarana. It is the consequence of art, artificial. Silver is the pre-existent cause, the Upadana Karana. God is the material Cause of creation of the Cosmos, the Universe. He is the substance; the basis, the Upadana Karana. He is the efficient cause too, the Nimitta Karana. He is both transcendental and phenomenal, both Being and Becoming. (Sutra Vahini, p. 49)
What is the cause of conflicts and restlessness in the world? Lack of recognition of the principle of oneness is mainly responsible. If someone were to criticize you, do not become agitated. Remember that same Atmic principle is present in both of you. The one who accuses and the one who is accused are not different entities. There will be no scope for agitation if you understand this truth. Peace and serenity will reign supreme in the world once the principle of oneness is recognised. (WLMG, p. 169)
I am the cause of all causes. I am eternal. I am Sat-cit-ananda (I am existence, knowledge, bliss). I am Hari (Krishna) and Hara (Shiva) too; I transform Myself into these manifestations as occasion arises. Creation, the Universe, is but the projection of My will; it has no basic reality. My son, I declare this truth to you as a result of My deep love toward you. Others will not be able to grasp the mystery of this creation. What I have just revealed to you is known as concise Bhagavatam. . (WLMG, p. 31)
Hatred is the cause of war, and desires are the cause for hatred. Anger arises if desires are not fulfilled. Ego arises if desires are fulfilled. Hence, an effort should be made to cut down one’s own desires, give up one’s hatred, and strive for Divine Grace. This, for man, is the foremost duty. (SSB 1996, p. 68)