What is Wrong There in the Modern Civilization
Stripped of spiritual knowledge, modern humanity cannot even distinguish between auspicious spiritual advancement and horrifying karmic degradation. By exposing this shocking state of ignorance, Śrīla Prabhupāda challenges the foolish arrogance of a society that happily embraces animalistic life while simultaneously criticizing the pure, flawless path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The true fault lies not in devotion, but in forgetting God.
The Tragedy of Modern Education
Because the universities fail to teach the science of the soul and the strict laws of karma, the youth are left utterly apathetic to their own future. Highlighting this disastrous failure, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that students have become so degraded they see absolutely no problem with devolving into an animal in their next birth.
- I have gone to so many universities. I have seen the students, hippies. And if you say that, "If you act like cats and dogs, you will become dog next life," they say - What is the wrong if I become a dog?
- The education is that a university student, if he is informed, that "If you live irresponsibly, then you may become dog next life," so they say, "What is the wrong if I become a dog?" (laughter) This is the result of education. He doesn't care.
- In this Hawaii sometime I was speaking in the university. So when I was speaking like that (never mind I shall again take my birth), one student said, "What is the wrong there if I become dog?" Yes, he flatly said. - I shall forget everything.
- They don't mind even if they become a dog next life. Is it not? This is Western civilization. They say plainly, "What is wrong? I'll forget." Such degradation has taken place in the human society.
The Flawless Life of Devotion
While the materialists slave away in offices and factories for temporary sense gratification, the devotees live a pure, joyful, and clean life dedicated to the Supreme Lord. Defending this superior lifestyle, Śrīla Prabhupāda challenges anyone to find a single flaw in the peaceful, radiant existence of those who have surrendered to Kṛṣṇa.
- We are living in a nice house, we are eating nice foodstuff, we have got nice dress, and the devotees look very nice, bright-faced. What is the wrong there?
- We have got nice dress and the devotees look very nice, bright faces. What is the wrong there? What is the wrong there? But they are not busy for earning money or going to the office or going to the factory or so many other sources of revenue.
- What is the wrong if I say, "Please chant Hare Krsna"? If you don't chant, that is your choice. There is no difficulty.
- Bhajan means execution of devotional service. Gradually it should be strong and ripe. But if one falls down, even it is not ripened, bhajann apakvo, sastra says that "What is the wrong there? What is the loss there? Because he has begun this line of devotional service.
Misplaced Love and Criticism
Modern civilization mistakenly believes that loving one's nation or immediate family is the highest virtue, while entirely ignoring the Supreme Father. Exposing this unscientific mindset, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it is the faithless demons—who do not know right from wrong—who dare to criticize the absolute morality of Kṛṣṇa and His devotees.
- How it (civilization) is misdirected? Suppose if I do not love God - if I love my wife, my children, my countrymen - what is the wrong there? Oh, there is great wrong. That you do not know. That is most unscientific.
- That is the first qualification of the demons. They do not know what is right doing and what is wrong doing.
- Krsna is the real friend. So if the gopis dance with the real friend, what is the wrong there? What is the wrong there? But those who are rascals, who do not know Krsna, they think it is immoral. It is not immoral.
- The fool's, rascal's parampara is there. The father is a rogue and the son is rogue. The grandson is a rogue. What is wrong? The parampara is rogue. And if they follow God's parampara, then everything is all right.
Conclusion
By shattering the false pride of materialistic education, the absolute necessity of living a pure, Kṛṣṇa conscious life becomes undeniably clear. Delivering humanity from the brink of animalistic degradation, Śrīla Prabhupāda proves that aligning oneself with the Supreme Lord's desires is the only path completely free from fault and full of eternal auspicousness.
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 What Is The Wrong There?. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.