The Degrading Influence of Kali
Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly warns about the degrading influence of Kali-yuga, the current age of quarrel and hypocrisy. This era infiltrates every aspect of human society, diminishing spiritual values and promoting a civilization focused on basic animalistic needs. However, by taking shelter of the Supreme Lord and following standard regulations, one can remain unaffected.
Infiltration into Human Society
The influence of Kali has gradually spread throughout the world, affecting almost every individual. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that practically no one is spared from this societal degradation, which forces human beings to labor simply for basic necessities like animals.
- At the present moment, all over the world, Kali's influence is going on, everyone, almost everyone, 99.9 percent. You cannot say cent percent, because there are some saintly persons.
- By the influence of the age of Kali, they have been dragged to the civilization of the dogs and hogs, laboring for bread without any sense of transcendental knowledge.
- In this age the people in general as well as their so-called leaders are all unlucky fellows, faithless in spiritual knowledge and influenced by the age of Kali.
- The present age is influenced by the specific qualities of Kali.
The Loss of Authentic Culture
As the age progresses, authentic Vedic culture and the genuine qualities of a brāhmaṇa are lost. Under the spell of Kali, inexperienced and unqualified individuals assume positions of power, leading to a vitiated social structure and the disrespect of pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that even the son of a brāhmaṇa can become puffed up and act improperly due to this influence.
- Because by the influence of Kali-yuga everyone is Sudra, so he does not know what is the actually Brahminical qualification. Therefore there is, I mean to say, competition.
- By the influence of Kali, the son of a brahmana became puffed up with brahminical power and thus wrongly compared Maharaja Pariksit to crows and watchdogs.
- The inexperienced brahmana, puffed up by a little brahma-tejas, became influenced by the spell of Kali-yuga.
- The whole scientific system of the orders of society in this age has assumed the form of a vitiated caste system, which is now being uprooted by another class of men similarly influenced by the age of Kali.
Symptoms of Increasing Degradation
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the specific symptoms of Kali-yuga include greed, falsehood, and violence. The killing of animals and even the lack of safety for children are direct results of this age. In the absence of Kṛṣṇa, the world becomes a place of lamentable disorder.
- Lobha, greediness; anrta, falsehood; jihma, means diplomacy; and himsa, violence or jealousy. When these things will increase, one should know that the influence of Kali-yuga is increasing.
- Killing business has so expanded that they are killing their own children. Just see the influence of Kali-yuga. The children, they take shelter of the father and mother, thinking very safe. Now, in this Kali-yuga, even there is no safety.
- Maharaja Yudhisthira was intelligent enough to understand the influence of the age of Kali, characterized by increasing avarice, falsehood, cheating and violence throughout the capital, state, home and among individuals.
- We are short-lived, and there are so many people without food, shelter, married life or defense from the onslaughts of nature. This is due to the influence of this age of Kali.
Neutralizing the Effects
Despite the overwhelming power of this age, there is a clear process for liberation. By constantly chanting the holy names as recommended by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and taking full shelter of Kṛṣṇa, devotees can completely neutralize the influence of Kali. Śrīla Prabhupāda guarantees that those under the Lord's protection have nothing to fear.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends, kirtaniyah sada harih (CC Adi 17.31), always chant; that is the principle. But we cannot do that because we are so much overwhelmed by the influence of Kali. So at least sixteen rounds. Don't miss this.
- The influence of Kali can be enforced only upon those who are not fully developed in God consciousness. One can neutralize the effects of Kali by keeping oneself fully under the supreme care of the Personality of Godhead.
- The Kali begins with this animal killing. That is Kali-yuga. Meat-eating. Therefore, to avoid the influence of Kali we have to give up this habit.
- We have already come to know that the influence of the age of Kali is meant for godless so-called civilized man; those who are under the protection of the Lord have nothing to fear from this horrible age.
Conclusion
In summary, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the influence of Kali is all-pervading, systematically destroying the spiritual culture and moral fabric of human society. It reduces humanity to a struggle for survival characterized by widespread vice. However, this formidable influence can be entirely counteracted. By sincerely adopting the practices of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, individuals can remain completely safe and secure from the degradation of this age.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Influence of Kali. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.