Neglecting Kṛṣṇa Consciousness - Wasting the Human Form of Life
The supreme tragedy of material existence is receiving the rare human form of life and failing to utilize it for self-realization. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that neglecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness is an act of profound foolishness that reduces a human being to the level of an animal and guarantees continued suffering in the cycle of birth and death.
The Importance of the Human Form
The human body is an invaluable vessel meant specifically for crossing the ocean of material nescience. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that to ignore this primary duty in favor of temporary sense gratification is equivalent to knowingly drinking poison and spoiling one's existence.
- The whole summary is that this human form of life is very, very important, and it is meant for developing Krsna consciousness. If you neglect this business and simply engage for sense gratification, that is spoiling time.
- If you do not take Krsna consciousness seriously in this human form of life, then you must know that you are drinking poison knowingly. Don't neglect it. Try to understand. It is based on science, philosophy, sastra, knowledge. It is not a blind faith.
- A foolish civilization neglects to teach people how to rise to the platform of bhakti-yoga. Without Krsna consciousness a person is no better than a hog or dog.
- Due to neglecting one's good intelligence, or Krsna consciousness, one becomes bewildered and engages in sinful activities. Upon realizing this, a man becomes repentant.
The Dangers of Neglect
When spiritual practice is abandoned, material illusion immediately takes control. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that neglecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness not only leads to a falldown into sinful behavior and the worship of lesser demigods, but it ensures that atheistic men will only realize God at the moment of death.
- So practice. So here this Krsna consciousness movement is bringing them to the practice. Therefore you find, so nice, boys and girls, they're practiced. As soon as they're neglectful to the practice - falls down.
- Business is secondary to our basic routine work. If the routine Krishna Consciousness program is neglected for other things, then everything else will fail.
- Neglecting Krsna consciousness, foolish people try to satisfy the goddess (Kali) by offering her many abominable things, but ultimately when there is a little discrepancy in this worship, the goddess punishes the worshiper by taking his life.
- Since death must take away the living entity without hesitation, it is the ultimate God realization of the atheists, who spoil their lives thinking of country, society and relatives, to the neglect of God consciousness.
A Universal and Scientific Process
Because Kṛṣṇa consciousness is distributed freely, foolish people sometimes minimize its immense value. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that this movement is not a cheap, sectarian religion, but a profound, scientific philosophy (siddhānta) that offers the greatest welfare to all of human society.
- Because we are distributing this, the most valuable asset of the world, so cheaply, don't neglect it. Take it. Don't minimize the value because we are distributing free.
- In the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said that nobody should be neglectful of the siddhanta because by siddhantic conclusion one becomes firm in Krsna Consciousness.
- Practically we see - we have got branches all over the world - those who have taken to Krsna consciousness, they are happy. So take it very seriously. Don't neglect it, that "It is a sectarian religion of the Hindus or " No. Krsna is not for the Hindus.
- My request, especially to the Indians, that do not neglect your culture, the Vedic culture. Vedic culture means Krsna consciousness. There is no other different meaning of Vedic culture.
Taking the Practice Seriously
Spiritual life must be executed with uncompromising determination. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that intelligent persons never treat Kṛṣṇa consciousness as a passing fashion; they practice it vigorously and continuously, knowing that it is the only permanent solution to all material problems.
- Those who are actually intelligent, they should not neglect this movement, Krsna Consciousness movement. It is the greatest welfare movement for the whole human society to make people God conscious, Krsna Consciousness, without which there will be so many troubles. It is already there.
- Anything you practice, you'll be successful. So if by practicing Krsna consciousness, you can go back to home, back to Godhead, why should you neglect it? That will solve your all problems.
- We should very seriously execute this Krsna consciousness. Without any deviation, very seriously. We should not be neglectful, that this is fashion or something imposed.
- Try to execute Krsna consciousness somehow or other. Even whatever you have finished, that is your lasting credit. Don't be neglectful. Tyaktva sva-dharmam. Svalpam apy asya - this is the most important line in Krsna consciousness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda delivers a stern and compassionate warning against the dangers of spiritual apathy. The human form of life is an exceedingly rare and highly specialized vehicle meant exclusively for crossing the ocean of material suffering and returning back to Godhead. To neglect Kṛṣṇa consciousness in favor of temporary, mundane business or fleeting sense gratification is to completely spoil this opportunity, effectively reducing oneself to the level of an animal. This spiritual negligence not only invites immediate bewilderment and sinful behavior, but it forces the atheist to eventually realize the absolute power of God only through the crushing, unavoidable force of death. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not a superficial fashion or a sectarian faith; it is the ultimate, scientific welfare activity for the entire world, firmly established in śāstra and siddhānta. Therefore, intelligent human beings must never minimize this freely distributed gift. By refusing to neglect their spiritual duties and by taking the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the utmost seriousness, sincere souls guarantee their eternal happiness and successfully solve all the problems of material existence.
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 Neglecting Krsna Consciousness. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.