View source for Preventing Human Society from Gliding Toward Hell

Human society currently faces a precarious situation where a lack of spiritual direction leads to a collective descent into darker regions of existence. Through the compassionate intervention of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the path to reversing this trend is made clear by aligning life with transcendental principles.

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=== The Subtle Descent Through Illusion ===

The process of falling into a hellish condition is often so subtle that the living entity remains unaware of the impending danger. Ensnared by the ''moha-jāla'', or the net of illusion, individuals pursue sense gratification while believing themselves to be making significant progress. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this unconscious gliding is the natural result of ignoring the ultimate goal of life in favor of temporary material goals.

* [[Vaniquotes:The result is that, without their (demoniac men's) knowledge, they are gliding toward hell. Here (in BG 16.16) the Sanskrit word mohajala is very significant. Jala means net; like fishes caught in a net, they have no way to come out. BG 1972 purports|The result is that, without their knowledge, they are gliding toward hell. Here the Sanskrit word mohajala is very significant. Jala means net; like fishes caught in a net, they have no way to come out.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When the living entity prefers to misuse his independence & glide down towards nescience, the all-merciful Lord first of all tries to protect him from the trap, but when he persists in gliding down to hell, the Lord helps him to forget his real position|When the living entity prefers to misuse his independence and glide down towards nescience, the all-merciful Lord first of all tries to protect him from the trap, but when he persists in gliding down to hell, the Lord helps him to forget his real position.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Being engaged in jealousy and violence to other bodies, materialists cannot understand the ultimate goal of life, and without knowing this goal of life, they generally glide down to a hellish condition in their next life|Being engaged in jealousy and violence to other bodies, materialists cannot understand the ultimate goal of life, and without knowing this goal of life, they generally glide down to a hellish condition in their next life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Foolish people contaminated by material nature do not give much importance to Your (Krsna's) transcendental form, and consequently they glide down to hell|Foolish people contaminated by material nature do not give much importance to Your transcendental form, and consequently they glide down to hell.]]

=== The Barrier of Pride and False Honor ===

A significant obstacle to spiritual realization is the presence of pride and the pursuit of false honor within the world. Those who are puffed up by their material status or artificial achievements find it impossible to comprehend the science of Kṛṣṇa. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, such individuals are deceived by their own ego, and despite the blessing of a human birth, they continue to move toward a hellish future.

* [[Vaniquotes:A puffed-up person cannot understand the science of Krsna. A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and, despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions|A puffed-up person cannot understand the science of Krsna. A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and, despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Demoniac people are most abominable in the world, by artificial means the world creates a false honor for them. Although they are gliding toward hell, they consider themselves very much advanced|Demoniac people are most abominable in the world, by artificial means the world creates a false honor for them. Although they are gliding toward hell, they consider themselves very much advanced.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Although demoniac people are most abominable in the world, still, by artificial means, the world creates a false honor for them. Although they are gliding toward hell, they consider themselves very much advanced. BG 1972 purports|Although demoniac people are most abominable in the world, still, by artificial means, the world creates a false honor for them. Although they are gliding toward hell, they consider themselves very much advanced.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and, despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions|A proud person is deceived in transcendental life and, despite having attained a human form, will again glide into hellish conditions.]]

=== The Failure of Leadership and Social Misguidance ===

The direction of society is largely determined by its leaders, yet many contemporary figures are under the sway of bodily conceptions. When those in power prioritize mundane welfare over spiritual enlightenment, they inadvertently lead their followers toward a hellish fate. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the lack of true ''brāhmaṇas'' and self-realized souls in leadership roles has left the general population vulnerable to the cycle of birth and death in lower forms.

* [[Vaniquotes:So-called social, national and government leaders mislead people more and more, under the bodily conception of life, with the result that all the leaders, with their followers, are gliding down to hellish conditions birth after birth|So-called social, national and government leaders mislead people more and more, under the bodily conception of life, with the result that all the leaders, with their followers, are gliding down to hellish conditions birth after birth.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:King Rahugana began to offer his respectful obeisances unto them (all kinds of brahmanas and self-realized persons) so that the offensive royal dynasties might not glide down into a hellish condition|King Rahugana began to offer his respectful obeisances unto them so that the offensive royal dynasties might not glide down into a hellish condition.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Vidura did not ask about the welfare of his elder brother because there was no chance of his well-being, only news of his gliding down to hell. Vidura was a sincere well-wisher for Dhrtarastra, and he had a thought about him in the corner of his heart|Vidura did not ask about the welfare of his elder brother because there was no chance of his well-being, only news of his gliding down to hell. Vidura was a sincere well-wisher for Dhrtarastra, and he had a thought about him in the corner of his heart.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Pariksit Maharaja anxiously wanted to know from Sukadeva Gosvami how humanity can be saved from gliding down to hell|Pariksit Maharaja anxiously wanted to know from Sukadeva Gosvami how humanity can be saved from gliding down to hell.]]

=== Empty Rituals and the Misuse of Duty ===

Discharging one's prescribed duties without a sense of devotion or Kṛṣṇa consciousness is insufficient to stop the soul's downward trajectory. Even if one follows the rules of social divisions, if the ultimate purpose of satisfying the Supreme Lord is ignored, the human form of life is essentially spoiled. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that even religious activities performed without genuine surrender can lead to a hellish destination if they are motivated by material gain or false attachment.

* [[Vaniquotes:If a person is lacking in devotion or Krsna consciousness, he cannot be released from material bondage, even if he executes his prescribed duty. On the contrary, even by discharging his prescribed duty he will glide down into hell|If a person is lacking in devotion or Krsna consciousness, he cannot be released from material bondage, even if he executes his prescribed duty. On the contrary, even by discharging his prescribed duty he will glide down into hell.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Devotional service and attachment (of prakrta-sahajiya) are false, and those so engaged are actually gliding down a hellish path. This is not the standard of ragatmika, or devotion. The prakrta-sahajiya community is actually cheated and very unfortunate|Devotional service and attachment are false, and those so engaged are actually gliding down a hellish path. This is not the standard of ragatmika, or devotion. The prakrta-sahajiya community is actually cheated and very unfortunate.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Ramananda Raya stated that those who strictly follow the rules and regulations of these eight social divisions can actually satisfy the Supreme Lord, and one who does not follow them certainly spoils his human form of life and glides toward hell|Ramananda Raya stated that those who strictly follow the rules and regulations of these eight social divisions can actually satisfy the Supreme Lord, and one who does not follow them certainly spoils his human form of life and glides toward hell.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Persons who are demons, enemies of the SPG, are called asuras. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, the asuras, because of their enmity toward the SPG, take birth after birth in asura families and therefore glide down to the darkest hellish regions|Persons who are demons, enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are called asuras. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, the asuras, because of their enmity toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, take birth after birth in asura families and therefore glide down to the darkest hellish regions.]]

=== The Purifying Power of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness ===

The only definitive protection against the descent into hell is the cultivation of a pure, God-centered life through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. By purifying one's existence, a person is shielded from taking birth in lower species and is instead prepared for a return to the spiritual realm. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the simple act of taking this movement seriously can save the entire world from the impending calamities of a hellish life.

* [[Vaniquotes:Krsna consciousness is the purest life, and it protects all human beings from gliding down to hell to take birth in a family of dogs or hogs|Krsna consciousness is the purest life, and it protects all human beings from gliding down to hell to take birth in a family of dogs or hogs.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Krsna said: Narada Muni has saved you from gliding down into the lowest condition of hellish life. All these facts are already known to Me. You are very fortunate because not only were you cursed by him, but you had the great opportunity to see him|Krsna said: Narada Muni has saved you from gliding down into the lowest condition of hellish life. All these facts are already known to Me. You are very fortunate because not only were you cursed by him, but you had the great opportunity to see him.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There is still time, and if the inhabitants of Bharata-varsa take this movement of Krsna consciousness seriously, the entire world will be saved from gliding down to a hellish condition|There is still time, and if the inhabitants of Bharata-varsa take this movement of Krsna consciousness seriously, the entire world will be saved from gliding down to a hellish condition.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If a sincere devotee somehow does fall down, the Lord corrects him and saves him from gliding down to the darkest region of hellish life|If a sincere devotee somehow does fall down, the Lord corrects him and saves him from gliding down to the darkest region of hellish life.]]

=== The Urgent Responsibility of Dedicated Students ===

The task of rescuing fallen human society rests upon those who have understood these profound truths and have committed themselves to the mission of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There is a grave responsibility to reestablish the foundations of a spiritual culture, such as ''varṇāśrama-dharma'', to provide a structural safeguard for the general mass of people. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges his followers to recognize the weight of this duty in preventing a generation from lost opportunities and hellish futures.

* [[Vaniquotes:So more and more I am urging my students to recognize the grave responsibility which is theirs for saving this fallen human society from gliding down into hell|So more and more I am urging my students to recognize the grave responsibility which is theirs for saving this fallen human society from gliding down into hell.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Krsna consciousness movement is being propagated all over the world to reestablish the varnasrama-dharma system and thus save human society from gliding down to hellish life|The Krsna consciousness movement is being propagated all over the world to reestablish the varnasrama-dharma system and thus save human society from gliding down to hellish life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If one gets another chance in a human body and wastes his valuable time in the association of persons who are concerned with sexual life and palatable dishes, then naturally he again glides down to the same Andha-tamisra and Tamisra hells|If one gets another chance in a human body and wastes his valuable time in the association of persons who are concerned with sexual life and palatable dishes, then naturally he again glides down to the same Andha-tamisra and Tamisra hells.]]

=== Conclusion ===

The pervasive trend of gliding toward hell is a symptom of a society that has lost its spiritual compass. Without the light of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the human form is squandered on activities that lead only to darkness and suffering. However, through the mission established by Śrīla Prabhupāda, there is hope for everyone to escape the net of illusion and redirect their journey toward the spiritual world. By recognizing the dangers of pride, misguided leadership, and hollow rituals, and by embracing the purifying practice of devotion, human society can be saved from a hellish fate and restored to its original, blissful nature.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Gliding_Toward_Hell|Gliding Toward Hell]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
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