The Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement Introduces Real Civilization
True human progress is not measured by skyscrapers or technological comforts, but by the awakening of spiritual knowledge. It was always emphasized by Śrīla Prabhupāda that society must move beyond the bodily concept of life to solve the ultimate problems of material existence. By embracing the principles of spiritual realization, humanity can transform its currently misdirected energy into a genuinely civilized culture aimed at returning to the spiritual world.
Overcoming the Animalistic Conception of Life
Modern society largely functions on the premise that life is meant for working hard to earn money and enjoy the senses. However, such an existence is repeatedly described by Śrīla Prabhupāda as an animalistic or hoggish civilization. When human beings simply jump around theorizing and making plans without understanding the root cause of their suffering, they remain trapped in ignorance. Real civilization requires questioning our true identity beyond the physical body and rejecting the basic principles of animalism in favor of spiritual elevation.
- Anaryan civilization means bodily concept of life, and Aryan civilization means spiritual concept of life, how to make spiritually advancement. That is real civilization.
- People are being taught in this way, that "Work very hard day and night, earn money, and enjoy senses, nothing more." So this sort of civilization is condemned. The real civilization is that one has to control.
- Simply theorizing, making plan, and they do not know what is the suffering. Such a rascal civilization. So we have to introduce real civilization. Therefore we are struggling so hard.
- This hoggish civilization is real civilization. To become like hog, that is real civilization. And to give up this process, thinking of soul, elevation of the soul, going back to Godhead - simply imagination, brainwashing.
- You have to introduce real human civilization. You should not be surprised, an animal, in different shapes, in different capacity, comes out. After all, he is an animal. The basic principle is animalism. Because he is thinking, "I am this body..."
The Foundation of Varṇāśrama
To bring order and spiritual purpose to human society, the Vedic system prescribes a natural division of labor and spiritual orders. It is explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda that without the institution of varṇāśrama, human life remains crude and uncivilized. By organizing society into the divisions of brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, and śūdra, alongside the spiritual orders of brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, and sannyāsa, people are systematically guided toward enlightenment and peace.
- If these divisions are there, four divisions: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, and brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, it will be very systematic. People will be automatically enlightened. That is real human civilization.
- The beginning of real human civilization is observance of the institute of four varnas and four asramas. That is the beginning of civilized life. Otherwise, it is not civilized life; it is crude, uncivilized life, where there is no varnasrama.
- Real civilization is to advance in Brahman knowledge. If there are brahmanas, that is advancement. This is not advancement because they do not know what is advancement.
- If you want to revive real Indian civilization or Vedic civilization for the good of the whole human society, take to Krsna consciousness. You'll be happy. There is no doubt.
Solving the Real Problems of Life
The ultimate test of any civilization is its ability to solve the genuine miseries of existence. True advancement is identified by Śrīla Prabhupāda as the organized effort to conquer birth, death, disease, and old age. Instead of chasing nonpermanent illusions, a real human civilization adjusts all its activities with the clear target of liberating the conditioned soul from the material world and returning back to Godhead.
- Civilization means how to get out of this material miseries—birth, death, disease and old age. That is real advancement of civilization. If there is any way and means to get out of this problem, then we must adopt in this human form of life.
- False or nonpermanent, whatever it may be, the real human civilization should be based on the purpose of becoming immortal, sat, not asat. That is the distinction between India and other countries.
- Real civilization is how to go back to home, back to Godhead. But they do not know. Na te viduh (SB 7.5.31). The materialistic persons, they do not know. Therefore there must be organization, institution, to teach the human society how to go back to home.
- The ultimate goal being liberation, we have to adjust things, targeting to that point. That is real human civilization. The Vedic civilization is based on this view, that all the conditioned souls, they have.
- The whole activities, human society's activities, should be targeted how to get rid of this repetition of birth and death. That is real civilization.
Understanding Our Relationship With God
Above all, human life is exclusively meant for reviving our lost spiritual consciousness. It is pointed out by Śrīla Prabhupāda that while animals also jump, eat, and sleep, they cannot appreciate the greatness of the Supreme Lord. By minimizing unnecessary labor, practicing tapasya, and absorbing oneself in spiritual knowledge, human society can perfectly understand its eternal relationship with the supreme father.
- If you analyze that everything is being maintained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is real understanding of Krsna consciousness, how Krsna is great, or God is great. So that is a real civilization of life.
- Real civilization is how to understand your relationship with God, the supreme father. That is real civilization. You may learn it through any process. It doesn't matter.
- Real civilization is not concerned simply with man's animal needs but with enabling man to understand his relationship with God, the supreme father.
- Real civilization is that minimize work. Minimize work, save time, and go back to your spiritual life. That is civilization. And this is not civilization, to get the necessities of life, sense gratification, and work like hog and dog. That is condemned.
- That is a real civilization of life, to understand, to appreciate, to appreciate the greatness of God. That is real civilization.
Conclusion
To establish a perfect society, humanity must shift its focus from temporary bodily comforts to eternal spiritual truths. Through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, it was the constant endeavor of Śrīla Prabhupāda to reintroduce the principles of real civilization to a misguided world. By understanding our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and organizing our lives to attain liberation, we can fulfill the true, glorious purpose of the human form of life.
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 Real Civilization. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.