The Krsna conscious movement is especially meant to enable a human being to reach the real goal of life. The real goal is to go back to Godhead, to our real home. We are embarrassed by material life, so our aim should be to get out of this situation and become fully Krsna conscious.
Krsna says that the material world is full of miseries and is temporary. Even if we compromise and decide to stay in this material world as an American or an Indian, we do not know what we will become in our next life. We may become an animal, an insect, or a demigod according to our karma.
Bob asks whether having some knowledge of God can make our life less miserable. Prabhupada explains that some knowledge is not enough; we need perfect knowledge. Perfect knowledge is taught in Bhagavad-gita, and the Krsna conscious movement gives everyone the opportunity to study it and make their life perfect.
Science does not properly explain the transmigration of the soul. It knows that energy is never destroyed but changes from one form to another, yet it does not explain how the living energy is directed into another body. Bhagavad-gita explains that just as we change an old and unusable shirt, the soul changes an old body for a new one. The body changes, but the soul remains the same and is an individual spiritual being.
Krsna is everywhere. He is within everyone's heart and within every atom. By sincerely chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, one can understand and realize the presence of Krsna. Krsna cannot be ordered to reveal Himself; we must please Him through sincere devotion. Just as we know that our hunger is satisfied when we eat, similarly, when we sincerely serve Krsna, we can experience spiritual realization.
We can please Krsna by pleasing His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, by following his teachings and carrying out his orders. Guru is the external manifestation of Krsna. A bona fide guru comes through the disciplic succession and has thoroughly heard the Vedic knowledge from his spiritual master. He is a perfect devotee who serves Krsna and preaches His message.
Krsna is the original spiritual master. He first imparted Vedic knowledge to Brahma, who became His disciple. Brahma then instructed Narada, and Narada instructed Vyasa. In this way, knowledge is passed down through guru-parampara, the disciplic succession. Therefore, transcendental knowledge should be received from a bona fide representative of Krsna; otherwise, it can be misunderstood.
We should pray to Krsna because He is our supreme father, but not merely for material benefits. As a child grows up and becomes willing to serve his father, similarly, in bhakti, we should develop the desire to serve and please Krsna without expecting anything in return.
Conclusion
The real goal of life is to know, serve, and please Krsna. We should receive spiritual knowledge from a genuine spiritual master in the disciplic succession and practice Krsna consciousness by sincerely chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra. By sincere devotion, Krsna will reveal Himself.