What Is This Civilization - A Critique of Modern Animalistic Society
Modern society proudly broadcasts its achievements in technology, industry, and economic development. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda pierces through this materialistic pride with a sharp and repetitive inquiry, asking exactly what kind of civilization humanity has actually built. He reveals that beneath the polished exterior of fast cars and tall buildings, modern life is little more than a sophisticated version of animal existence, plagued by anxiety, senseless labor, and profound spiritual starvation.
The Burden of Material Ambition
Śrīla Prabhupāda points out the absurdity of modern economic development, noting that people labor exhausting hours just to fulfill basic bodily needs. He compares this frantic struggle to an ass working hard only to achieve the lifestyle of a pig. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, amassing wealth without spiritual knowledge simply leads to degradation, as the money is invariably squandered on sinful activities rather than elevating human consciousness.
- A ass is trying to become a pig. What is that civilization? So ideal is to become a pig, and for that, fulfillment of that idea, they are working like ass. Is it not? Just see. Think over.
- After all qualification, if one has to do the same thing just to fill up the belly, working twelve hours, fourteen hours, then what is this civilization?
- What is this civilization? Simply money, money, money, money, money. And as soon as you get money, then you begin all nonsense, illicit sex, meat-eating, drinking, gambling. What you will do with the money? You do not know how to spend it.
A Culture of Anxiety and Danger
Despite its promises of comfort, modern society has manufactured an environment filled with constant danger and fear. Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that high-speed motorcars and rampant urban crime make daily life incredibly unsafe, effectively turning humans into fearful demons and rakṣasas. He explains that a culture governed by blind leaders inevitably creates a ludicrous and perilous situation for everyone involved.
- This is their civilization, with the risk of life, running motor car eighty miles' speed. Every moment there is risk. What is this civilization? Most ludicrous civilization.
- The negroes, they capture and rape. Life is unsafe even in a civilized city like New York. So what is this civilization?
- The so-called science and nasty philosophy and economics and making them, training them as demons and raksasas. What is this civilization? So our movement is against this demonic civilization.
Neglecting the Real Self
The ultimate tragedy of secular advancement is that it completely neglects the eternal spirit soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda famously compares this paradigm to polishing a cage while the bird inside starves to death. By giving up religion to work in factories and indulge in meat-eating and intoxication, humanity has embraced a lifestyle identical to that of cats and dogs, entirely missing the true purpose of the human form.
- If you simply wash the cage very nicely and cover it and paint it and the bird within the cage is crying, starving... What is this civilization? Similarly, we spirit soul, we have been encaged within this body.
- To give up religion altogether, secular, simply open factory, bolts and nuts, and work hard and drink and take meat... What is this civilization? What is this civilization? Therefore we are suffering.
- There is no regular training of the human being. They are being trained up like cats' and dogs' life. Cats and dogs, they don't require training. Because what is the modern civilization? Eating, sleeping, sex life, and dying.
The Authentic Vedic Alternative
In stark contrast to the chaotic modern paradigm, Śrīla Prabhupāda presents the peaceful and purposeful standard of Vedic civilization. He explains that a truly civilized society protects the cow and bull, rises early to perform spiritual duties like maṅgala-ārātrika, and centers its education on realizing Kṛṣṇa. Through this enlightened way of life, human beings can transcend animalistic struggles and achieve ultimate spiritual success.
- So what is this civilization? Early in the morning, six o'clock... According to Vedic civilization, one should rise early in the morning and chant Hare Krsna, perform mangala aratrika, worship the Deity. This is the morning business.
- Just like father earns money for feeding the children, similarly, the bulls help producing, plowing, producing food grains, and the cow gives milk, mother. And what is this civilization, killing father and mother? This is not good civilization.
- Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah (BG 7.19). This is wanted. At least, one must know. Why they should be kept in darkness? What is this civilization? They have got light. The knowledge is there. They can be educated.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda profoundly challenges the pride of contemporary society by demanding to know exactly what this civilization stands for. He systematically proves that an existence based solely on economic development, fast cars, and sense gratification is nothing more than a polished animal life. When humanity starves the spirit soul, slaughters its animal mothers and fathers, and follows blind leaders, the inevitable result is endless suffering and demonic anxiety. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda offers the perfect remedy through the Vedic model of civilization. By embracing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, protecting sacred life, and prioritizing spiritual realization, we can abandon the foolish struggle for material existence and achieve the true, peaceful perfection meant for human beings.
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