Kṛṣṇa Is the Missing Point of Modern Civilization
Despite extraordinary advancements in science, technology, and material comfort, modern civilization finds itself in a profound paradox — the more it achieves, the less happy it becomes. Śrīla Prabhupāda cuts through this contradiction with a singular, unflinching diagnosis: Kṛṣṇa is the missing point. Until the Supreme Lord is restored to the center of human life and consciousness, all attempts to build a happy civilization will remain fundamentally incomplete.
Material Progress and the Missing Point
Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that modern civilization has mistaken the improvement of material conditions for the aim of life itself. While roads, technology, and comfort have expanded enormously, the essential spiritual knowledge — who we are, what happens after death, and what our relationship with God is — has been entirely neglected. This neglect, he teaches, is the root cause of the pervasive unhappiness that persists even in the most prosperous societies.
- As far as material necessities are concerned, the human civilization at the present moment is very much advanced in living comfortably, but still we are not happy, because we are missing the point.
- Aim of civilization is to understand Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But they're missing the point. They're thinking motor tire civilization, very nice road and running motorcar in seventy, eighty miles speed, that is civilization.
- They know how to live comfortably in the material world, but there is no spiritual information. Missing point. That is the defect of the Western civilization. They have got some vague idea of God, practically no idea.
- This is the missing point of modern civilization. They do not know . . . there is no educational system in the university what happens after death.
The Misdirected Propensity to Love
At the heart of Śrīla Prabhupāda's teaching is the understanding that every living being is constitutionally a lover. The capacity to love is not the problem — the problem is that this love is being directed toward objects that cannot reciprocate fully or lastingly. He consistently teaches that the longing of the ātmā can only be fulfilled by Kṛṣṇa, the original and supreme object of all love.
- Even an animal like a tiger has this loving propensity at least in a dormant stage, and it is certainly present in the human beings. The missing point, however, is where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy.
- At present we are utilizing our propensity of love by inventing so many ways, but factually we are missing the real point - Krishna.
- One may live without material discomfiture, but at the same time he should learn the art of loving Krsna. At the present moment we are inventing so many ways to utilize our propensity to love, but factually we are missing the real point: Krsna.
- That missing point is Krsna, and The Nectar of Devotion teaches us how to stimulate our original love for Krsna and how to be situated in that position where we can enjoy our blissful life.
A Generation and Society Without Aim
Śrīla Prabhupāda draws a striking picture of the social consequences of missing the point. The hopelessness and confusion visible in the younger generation, the failure of political organizations, and the general malaise of modern society all trace back to the same cause — the absence of Kṛṣṇa at the center of life. In contrast, those who have taken to bhakti radiate beauty and purpose precisely because Kṛṣṇa is present in their lives.
- At the present time in America, many of the younger generation are confused and hopeless, and therefore they appear morose and black-faced. Why? Because they are missing the point; they have no aim in life.
- In your country young generation mostly they are confused, hopeless. We see every day-morose, black-faced. Why? Because they're missing the point. There is no aim of life. But these devotees, Krsnized, they look so beautiful. Why? Because Krsna is there.
- They are creating societies of sense gratification. Therefore, in any group, either in societies, or communities, or nations, or at last in the United Nations, they are all unhappy. Because the real point is missing.
- This is the demonic civilization. They do not know what is the aim of life. And, in the material atmosphere, they're not happy, they're failing always, missing the real point.
Kṛṣṇa - The True Proprietor and Source of All Energy
Everything in creation is Kṛṣṇa's energy, and He alone is the real bhoktā — the enjoyer and proprietor of all that be. Failing to recognize this fundamental truth means operating in māyā, regardless of how sophisticated one's civilization may appear. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is not merely a religious figure but the very source and center of all existence.
- Everything is energy of God, Krsna, but this material world means we are missing Krsna. Wherefrom this energy has come? That point we are missing.
- That point is missing. Real enjoyer or proprietor is Krsna. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram. He's the proprietor.
- The missing point is being presented that you are not this body; you are within this body, spirit soul. You just try to come out of this entanglement of birth, death, old age, and go back to home, back to Godhead.
- If we don't understand what is God, what is Krsna and our relationship with Him, then we are missing the point.
Kṛṣṇa Consciousness - The Only Solution
Śrīla Prabhupāda leaves no doubt about the remedy. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, given to the world by Lord Caitanya, is the one complete answer to the crisis of modern civilization. Whether through the study of sacred texts, the practice of bhakti-yoga, or hearing from a realized soul, the path back to the missing point is clear and accessible to all.
- Actually this Krishna Consciousness Movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya is the only panacea for all the diseases of the material world; the missing point is forgetfulness of God.
- So although the Russians may be very much advanced by throwing sputniks into the outer space, they are missing the real point - Krsna Consciousness, the science of God.
- The Nectar of Devotion will teach us how to turn the one switch that will immediately brighten everything, everywhere. One who does not know this method is missing the point of life.
- They (Mayavadis) have all missed the real point: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the Absolute Truth, can be understood only by devotional service.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings reveal that beneath every form of human suffering lies a single, common cause — the forgetting of Kṛṣṇa. Material civilization, however advanced, is like a great machine running without its essential component. The loving propensity of the living being, the intelligence of the scholar, the collective energy of nations — all are wasted when not directed toward the Supreme Lord. By embracing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, human beings can at last find what they have been missing and experience the ānanda for which they were created.
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 Missing the Point. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.