Good Citizenship Means Strictly Following the Laws of the Government
This article explores the concept of civil and spiritual responsibility as presented in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Throughout his instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda draws a clear parallel between civic duty and religious life. A society cannot function without law, order, and the willing cooperation of its members. Just as a prosperous state relies on individuals who respect the government, a peaceful and spiritually progressive universe relies on living entities who surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Analogy of State and Divine Law
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently compares the principles of religion to the laws of a state. A government establishes rules to maintain order, and anyone who faithfully follows them is considered a good citizen. In the exact same way, the Supreme Lord has established universal laws for human society. True dharma, or religion, simply means knowing and obeying these divine laws. One who disregards God's orders is like an outlaw or a rogue, regardless of their material qualifications.
- Just like good citizenship means to abide by the laws of the state, of the government. That is good citizenship. Similarly, a real religious person means who is abiding by the orders of the Supreme Lord.
- What is dharma? Just like it is the duty of good citizen to abide by the laws of the state, similarly, dharmi, a person who is religious, means who is abiding by the laws of God. That's all. And who is not abiding, he is adharmi. That is the difference.
- Religion means to abide by the orders of God. That's all. Just like good citizen means who abides by the order of the government. That's all. There is no difficulty to understand what is good citizen.
- The state gives us some rules & regulation to live, and one who follows the rules and regulation or the laws of the state, he is called good citizen, & those who do not follow, they are called outlaws or rogues. Similarly, religion is very simple thing.
Creating Good Character
Simply demanding good behavior from the public is insufficient if the state simultaneously encourages degradation. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that a society allowing the four pillars of sinful life—meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling—cannot possibly produce good citizens. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement addresses this from the root by educating individuals and reforming their character. By engaging in devotional service, one naturally develops all the noble qualities required to be an upstanding member of society.
- These (illicit sex life, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling) are the four pillars of sinful life. If you allow people to indulge in sinful life, how you can expect good citizen? That is not possible. Their character must reform.
- If you allow people to indulge in sinful life, how you can expect good citizen? That is not possible. Their character must reform. So we have taken from the root. We are making men of character, knowledge, sincerity, God conscious.
- If you do not take education, if you remain fools and rascals, then you will suffer and create disturbance for others also. Therefore everyone must be educated, good citizens. It is good for him, good for others.
- By simply becoming Krsna conscious, you become good member of your family, you become good citizen, you become good, I mean to say, yourself. You become humanitarian, you become philanthropic, altruistic - everything.
The Duty of the Government
In the Vedic system, politics and governance have a clear, twofold purpose. The duty of the state, led by qualified kṣatriyas, is to maintain law and order by giving protection to the innocent, good citizens while strictly punishing the rogues and criminals. When citizens live securely under such a righteous administration, human society becomes free from anxiety. This harmonious cooperation reflects the divine order, wherein individuals surrender to the state just as the state surrenders to the authority of the Supreme Lord.
- Politics means two things. The state, government, what is that? Government gives protection to the good citizen, and those who are rogues, punish them. Law and order. Two things are there: maintenance and law and order.
- Ksatriya king has got two functions. One function is to give protection and happiness to the good citizens, and another function is to kill the demons or the disturbing elements in the society.
- Government gives protection to the good citizen, and those who are rogues, punish them. Law and order. Two things are there: maintenance and law and order. So similarly, our Krsna consciousness is also the same thing.
- Human society is so arranged that the people, the members of the human society, should be free from all anxiety. Therefore we require good citizens, good father and mother, good system of government, and pious, virtuous, cooperation between God and nature.
The Scientific System of Varṇāśrama
A thriving state requires a scientific division of society to train individuals according to their natural qualities and work. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the varṇāśrama institution is specifically designed to cultivate good citizens. By organizing society into intellectual, administrative, mercantile, and labor classes, and by guiding them through the spiritual stages of life, the state ensures that everyone is productively engaged. This comprehensive training not only maintains material peace but ultimately prepares every citizen for spiritual realization.
- As indicated here (in SB 9.10.50) by the words sva-dharma-nirata varnasrama-gunan-vitah, the people were good citizens (of Lord Ramacandra's kingdom) because they accepted the institution of varna and asrama.
- The citizens were trained according to the varnasrama system. A class of men were brahmanas, a class of men were ksatriyas, a class were vaisyas, and a class were sudras. Without this scientific division, there can be no question of good citizenship.
- This (schools and colleges to train students to become brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis) will provide the preliminary condition for good citizenship - varnasrama-gunan-vitah.
- The training was compulsory not only to create good citizens of the state, but also to prepare the boy's future life for spiritual realization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the principles of good citizenship are inseparable from the principles of true religion. Just as a peaceful state depends on citizens who respect and abide by its laws, a peaceful universe depends on human beings who recognize the supreme authority of God and follow His divine orders. By implementing the varṇāśrama system and eradicating sinful habits, society can produce men and women of high character. Ultimately, the perfection of life is to become a good citizen not merely of a temporary earthly nation, but of the eternal kingdom of Kṛṣṇa.
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 Good Citizens. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.