Eradicating Scarcity by Depending On God For Sufficient Food Grains
The fundamental basis of a peaceful and prosperous human society lies in its ability to satisfy the basic necessities of life without unnecessary violence or artificial endeavor. Pointing out the severe flaws of modern industrial civilization, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that genuine economic development is achieved only by producing sufficient food grains and protecting cows. When people depend on the natural arrangements of the Supreme Lord rather than mechanized economies, all scarcity is completely eradicated.
The True Measure of Wealth
According to the Vedic system, paper money holds no actual value when there is a lack of basic sustenance. Elaborating on this principle, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a nation is only truly wealthy when it possesses vast reserves of grains and an abundance of milk from protected cows. By focusing on these natural gifts, society easily solves all economic problems and guarantees the health and vitality of its citizens.
- Dhanena dhanavan. They say that a rich man means one who has got sufficient stock of food grains. Food grains. Dhanena dhanavan. That is Vedic economic system.
- According to Vedic civilization, a man is supposed to be rich when he has got sufficient grains and cows. Here we have neither sufficient grains or cows, but you have got sufficient quantity of papers only - falsely thinking that it is money.
- Cow's milk is very important for human energy, and the economic development of society depends on sufficient food grains, sufficient milk, and sufficient transportation and distribution of these products.
- If you have got sufficient food grains and milk, the whole food question is solved. And these rascals, they are not giving protection to the cows, but they are killing cows.
Trusting in the Lord's Arrangement
The Supreme Personality of Godhead has designed the earth to effortlessly supply all the necessities for both humans and animals. Reminding the world of this divine grace, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that there is no actual shortage of land or resources on the planet. If people simply depend on God and utilize the fertile land to grow food, they will experience limitless prosperity and eliminate all artificial poverty.
- We can produce sufficient food grains for our maintenance, and the whole world has got sufficient land. I have traveled over the world at least fourteen times.
- If we depend on God's creation, there will be no scarcity, but simply ananda, bliss. God's creation provides sufficient grains and grass, and while we eat the grains and fruits, the animals like the cows will eat the grass.
- If there is proper rainfall, then you get sufficient food grains; not only food grains, other things also. Sarva-dugha mahi, sarva-kama-dugha mahi. From the earth you can get all the necessities of life.
- If there is time and if your population has got sufficient food grains, then you can try to grow other fruits and vegetables for exporting. The first necessity is that you should be self-sufficient. That is God's arrangement.
The Danger of Industrial Illusion
Modern society has misguidedly placed its energy into manufacturing lifeless machines rather than cultivating the earth. Observing vast tracts of unused agricultural land, Śrīla Prabhupāda criticizes the foolishness of an industry-driven civilization that completely ignores basic food production. When humanity replaces farming with factories, the inevitable result is widespread starvation and societal chaos.
- Krsna says, annad bhavanti bhutani. Anna. Anna means food grains, eatables. You must produce sufficient food grains. Why you are producing tire tube instead of food grains?
- Unless there is sufficient grain... people are giving more stress how to produce machine, but they are not giving any stress how to produce foodstuff. So many land are lying vacant.
- Produce sufficient food grain. So in the village side you go, hundreds and thousands of acres of land is lying vacant. Nobody is interested. Now they are interested opening slaughterhouse. Kill the poor animals and eat, but don't produce food grain.
- The human society, they should be advanced so much that even the birds, they have nothing to kill for their eating. They have got sufficient food. And we are advanced human being, we are killing for eating instead of God giving us so much food.
Rejecting the Sin of Slaughter
A peaceful society cannot be established upon the violent foundation of animal slaughter. Stressing the abundance provided by nature, Śrīla Prabhupāda argues that when the earth yields an ample supply of fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk, there is absolutely no excuse for maintaining slaughterhouses. By adopting a pure vegetarian diet based on kṛṣi (agriculture) and cow protection, humanity avoids severe sinful reactions and aligns itself with the laws of nature.
- Human society should be sober and continent. I require to eat something, if I have got sufficient grains, fruits, milk, flour, vegetables, why should I kill unnecessarily a poor animal? So this is sinful.
- Why should you kill animals? You have got sufficient grains, sufficient food, sufficient milk, and is it very nice thing that you take milk from the cow, who is your mother, and kill at the same time? Is that very good reason?
- India, eighty percent people, they are vegetarian. They are living very nicely. They are eating sufficient food grain and fruits and milk and milk product. God has given us so many. So why should we maintain slaughterhouse, killing other animals?
- Food production you can do by agriculture, krsi, and by giving protection to the cows. So if you get sufficient food grains, like rice, wheat, pulses, and sufficient milk - from milk you get yogurt, butter, ghee - then your all food problem is solved.
The Ultimate Foundation for Joy
Before engaging in high philosophical debates, human beings must first have their basic physiological needs met. Pointing to the profound instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that producing food is the practical solution for societal happiness. Only when people are properly fed can they peacefully engage in spiritual realization and complete the ultimate mission of life.
- Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, annad bhavanti bhutani: "If there is sufficient food grains, then both man and animal, they become happy." Therefore our first religion is to produce food grain sufficiently to feed everyone.
- Our first problem is - because we have got this material body - eating. Everyone must eat. So Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, annad bhavanti bhutani: "If there is sufficient food grains, then both man and animal, they become happy."
- What is the talking of advaita-vada philosophy or dvaita-vada philosophy when you are needy, you require anna? That is practical solution given by Krsna. Annad bhavanti bhutani. You must find out sufficient grains.
- You require food grain, I require food grain, the animals require food grain, and everyone requires food grain. So if there is sufficient food grain, then everyone will be happy.
Conclusion
The illusion of modern economic development has driven human society away from nature, resulting in artificial scarcity and widespread suffering. As Śrīla Prabhupāda continually emphasizes, actual wealth is found only in the simplicity of agricultural life and cow protection. By honoring the Lord's perfect arrangement and ensuring there are sufficient food grains for all, society becomes healthy, peaceful, and fully equipped to pursue the ultimate goal of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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 Sufficient Food Grains. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.