The Alternative Future - 6
Living on Mother Nature’s Gifts
Exploitation of Nature vs. Cooperation With Nature
God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees
and flowers and clouds and stars. ~Martin Luther
All The World Issues Stem From Our Disregard for Nature and Natural Living
Modern techno-scientific institution has lost concern for God and nature. The nature that was seen as a handiwork of God, to be revered, cooperated and preserved, has became a subject to be dominated and made a slave. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), one of the founders of the modern scientific method, viewed nature as a mysterious, wild woman, something to be exploited and plundered and that “scientists with their new mechanical devices had to torture nature’s secrets out of her.”
Francis Bacon set forth the empirical method. Bacon was the first to formulate a clear theory of the inductive procedure - to make experiments and to draw general conclusions from them, to be tested in further experiments - and he became extremely influential by vigorously advocating the new method. He boldly attacked traditional schools of thought and developed a veritable passion for scientific experimentation.
The “Baconian spirit” profoundly changed the nature and purpose of the scientific quest. From the time of the ancients the goals of science had been wisdom, understanding the natural order and living in harmony with it. Since Bacon, the goal of science has been knowledge that can be used to dominate and control nature, and today both science and technology are used predominantly for purposes that are profoundly antiecological.
Nature, in his view, had to be “hounded in her wanderings”, “bound into service”, and made a “slave”. She was to be “put in constraint”, and the aim of the scientist was to “torture nature’s secrets from her”.
The ancient concept of the earth as a nurturing mother was radically transformed in Bacon’s writings, and it disappeared
completely as the Scientific Revolution proceeded to replace the organic view of nature with the metaphor of the world as the machine.
In 1626 Bacon wrote a utopian novel, The New Atlantis . It depicts a mythical land, Bensalem, to which he sailed, that was located somewhere off the western coast of the continent of America. He recounts the description by one of its wise men, of its system of experimentation, and of its method of recognition for inventions and inventors. The best and brightest of Bensalem's citizens attend a college called Salomon's House, in which scientific experiments are conducted in Baconian method in order to understand and conquer nature, and to apply the collected knowledge to the betterment of society. In this novel, Bacon listed some of the inventions he could foresee: “The prolongation of life ... means to convey sound in trunks and pipes in strange lines and distances ... flying in the air ... ships and boats for going under water.” Also in the list: “instruments of destruction as of war and poison” and “engines of war, stronger and more violent, exceeding our greatest cannons.”
Francis Bacon set forth the empirical method. Bacon was the first to formulate a clear theory of the inductive procedure - to make experiments and to draw general conclusions from them, to be tested in further experiments - and he became extremely influential by vigorously advocating the new method. He boldly attacked traditional schools of thought and developed a veritable passion for scientific experimentation.
The “Baconian spirit” profoundly changed the nature and purpose of the scientific quest. From the time of the ancients the goals of science had been wisdom, understanding the natural order and living in harmony with it. Since Bacon, the goal of science has been knowledge that can be used to dominate and control nature, and today both science and technology are used predominantly for purposes that are profoundly antiecological.
Nature, in his view, had to be “hounded in her wanderings”, “bound into service”, and made a “slave”. She was to be “put in constraint”, and the aim of the scientist was to “torture nature’s secrets from her”.
The ancient concept of the earth as a nurturing mother was radically transformed in Bacon’s writings, and it disappeared
completely as the Scientific Revolution proceeded to replace the organic view of nature with the metaphor of the world as the machine.
In 1626 Bacon wrote a utopian novel, The New Atlantis . It depicts a mythical land, Bensalem, to which he sailed, that was located somewhere off the western coast of the continent of America. He recounts the description by one of its wise men, of its system of experimentation, and of its method of recognition for inventions and inventors. The best and brightest of Bensalem's citizens attend a college called Salomon's House, in which scientific experiments are conducted in Baconian method in order to understand and conquer nature, and to apply the collected knowledge to the betterment of society. In this novel, Bacon listed some of the inventions he could foresee: “The prolongation of life ... means to convey sound in trunks and pipes in strange lines and distances ... flying in the air ... ships and boats for going under water.” Also in the list: “instruments of destruction as of war and poison” and “engines of war, stronger and more violent, exceeding our greatest cannons.”
ime jana-padah svrddhah supakvausadhi-virudhah
vanadri-nady-udanvanto hy edhante tava viksitaih
"All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in abundance, the trees are full of fruits, the rivers are flowing, the hills are full of minerals and the oceans full of wealth. And this is all due to Your glancing over them."
Prabhupada: This is Vedic civilization. There is mention of so many things, that "The grains are in abundance and the trees are full of fruits. The rivers are flowing nicely. The hills are full of minerals and the ocean full of wealth." So where is the scarcity? There is no mention that slaughterhouse is flourishing, industry is flourishing. No such mention. There are all nonsense things they have created. Therefore problems are there. If you depend on God's creation, then there is no scarcity, simply ananda. If the trees are full of fruits, if you have got sufficient grains and... Because there is sufficient grains, there is sufficient grass also. The animals, the cows, they will eat the grass. You'll eat the grains, the fruits. And the animal will help you, the bulls will help you to produce grains. And he will partake little, what you throw away.
-Srila Prabhupada (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.40 -- Los Angeles, May 2, 1973)
Well, three centuries later, Baconianism has become a reality. Science and technology have come to play a primary role in people’s lives and spiritual quest has been assigned a secondary place. The consequences have been devastating. Individuals and cultures have been stripped of inner meaning and the external world (including the global ecology) has been rendered into a set of things, mere resources. Consequently the world of modernity has been built on an illusion: the illusion that only half of reality matters: the external, objective, measurable part. The cry 'no more myths' has led to the abandonment of any possibility of further development and to the 'disenchantment' of self and the world. Historian Lewis Mumford says, “Whatever their adhesion to the outward ceremonies of the Church . . . more and more people began to act as if their happiness, their prosperity, their salvation were to be achieved on the earth alone, by means they themselves would if possible command.”
Every decade is further seeing the degradation of human spirit and further rise of materialism. Thus even greater thrust has been laid into building the machines Bacon envisioned, vastly increasing human ability to exploit the earth’s resources.
Almost two millenia ago, Pliny (A.D. 23-79) urged us to cooperate with nature for our own good. The words that he wrote in his work called ‘Natural History’, deserve a mention,“For it is upon her surface, in fact, that she has presented us with these substances, equally with the cereals, bounteous and ever ready, as she is, in supplying us with all things for our benefit! It is what is concealed from our view, what is sunk far beneath her surface, objects, in fact, of no rapid formation, that urge us to our ruin, that send us to the very depths of hell. As the mind ranges in vague speculation, let us only consider, proceeding through all ages, as these operations are, when will be the end of thus exhausting the earth, and to what point will avarice finally penetrate! How innocent, how happy, how truly delightful even would life be, if we were to desire nothing but what is to be found upon the face of the earth; in a word, nothing but what is provided ready to our hands!”
Every decade is further seeing the degradation of human spirit and further rise of materialism. Thus even greater thrust has been laid into building the machines Bacon envisioned, vastly increasing human ability to exploit the earth’s resources.
Almost two millenia ago, Pliny (A.D. 23-79) urged us to cooperate with nature for our own good. The words that he wrote in his work called ‘Natural History’, deserve a mention,“For it is upon her surface, in fact, that she has presented us with these substances, equally with the cereals, bounteous and ever ready, as she is, in supplying us with all things for our benefit! It is what is concealed from our view, what is sunk far beneath her surface, objects, in fact, of no rapid formation, that urge us to our ruin, that send us to the very depths of hell. As the mind ranges in vague speculation, let us only consider, proceeding through all ages, as these operations are, when will be the end of thus exhausting the earth, and to what point will avarice finally penetrate! How innocent, how happy, how truly delightful even would life be, if we were to desire nothing but what is to be found upon the face of the earth; in a word, nothing but what is provided ready to our hands!”
“Three or four hundred years ago science turned towards reductionism, the idea that we can understand everything around us and inside ourselves solely in terms of matter acting according to simple physical laws. This paradigm gave human society increased ability to exploit matter. But this viewpoint has cost us a lot - a planet threatened with ruination, and depletion of the human spirit.”
Attitude Towards Nature - Need For Change
There is a growing understanding that addressing the global crisis facing humanity will require new methods for knowing, understanding, and valuing the world. Narrow, disciplinary, mechanistic, and reductionist perceptions of reality are proving inadequate for addressing the complex, interconnected problems of the current age. The currently dominant worldview of scientific materialism, which views the cosmos as a vast machine composed of independent, externally related pieces, promotes fragmentation in our thinking and perception. The materialist view of natural systems as commodities to be exploited coupled with the ethos of consumerism and social Darwinism has encouraged widespread destruction of our natural life support systems. The cancerous spread of nihilism and dehumanization are driving the decay and disintegration of techno-industrial culture.
Simply, wherever you go, (makes traffic noise) "sonh, sonh, sonh, sonh," and "gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh." Up in the sky, "gonh, gonh, gonh, gonh," and in the street, "sonh, sonh..." And then, when digging, "gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut-gut!" (laughter) Is it not? Don't you feel botheration. But they are thinking, "Oh, America is very much advanced in machine." And when there is that garbage truck? "Ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon-ghon!" (laughter) So many sounds are going on, always. Eh? Of course, you have got very nice city, nice roads everywhere. But this trouble... You have created so many troubles. And there are news that one lady was a patient. She became mad by the sounds. And I think they are thinking very seriously how to stop all these sounds. Is it not? ...We are creating a civilization which is so much painful, but we are thinking that we are advanced. This is illusion.
-Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation - December 21, 1970, Surat)
In Vedic literatures like Bhagavad-gita, material nature has been described as God’s inferior energy and living entity, the soul as God’s superior nature. Vedic literature do not approve the idea that life can originate from chemicals and neither does empirical science has any proof to support this idea. By portraying life forms to mere biological machines, science has done tremendous damage. This godless perspective lies at the heart of all the maladies including environmental ones. True God consciousness inspires one to treat environment as one of God’s manifestations and act responsibly towards it. Godless worldview has produced an extremely callous attitude towards life, ecology and world resources.
Ideas or thoughts do manifest as our destiny as reflected in the adage, "Sow a thought to reap an act, sow an act and reap a habit, sow a habit and reap a character, sow a character and reap a destiny." Therefore flawed paradigms of humanity are costing us dearly now.
Ideas or thoughts do manifest as our destiny as reflected in the adage, "Sow a thought to reap an act, sow an act and reap a habit, sow a habit and reap a character, sow a character and reap a destiny." Therefore flawed paradigms of humanity are costing us dearly now.
Nature vs Industry : Mother vs Witch
Srila Prabhupada explains in his Srimad Bhagavatam purports, "It is understood that in the past people depended on nature's gifts of fruits and flowers without industrial enterprises promoting filthy slums for residential quarters. Advancement of civilization is not established on the growth of mills and factories to deteriorate the finer instincts of the human being; it rests on developing the potent spiritual instincts of humanity.”
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Daybreak is one of the greatest disadvantages of living under the solar system: It means having to get up almost the very minute you go to bed, And bathe and shave and scrub industriously at your molar system And catch a train and go to the office or factory. |
Living by Nature's Gifts
After several centuries, the Industrial Revolution has left a legacy of dissatisfaction, conflict, and pollution. Best course would be to stay away from the factory, live in harmony with the earth, and make our goals spiritual, not material.
Following are some more extracts from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada on this subject.
Gigantic Industrial enterprises” Srila Prabhupada says, “are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life.”
“The more we go on increasing such troublesome industries,” the more we “squeeze the vital energy out of the human being” and “the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the people in general, although a few only can live lavishly by exploitation.” (SB 1.8.40)
“The productive energy of the laborer is misused when he is occupied by industrial enterprises.… The production of machines and machine tools increases the artificial living fashion of a class of vested interests and keeps thousands of men in starvation and unrest This should not be the standard of civilization.” (SB 1.9.6)
Following are some more extracts from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada on this subject.
Gigantic Industrial enterprises” Srila Prabhupada says, “are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life.”
“The more we go on increasing such troublesome industries,” the more we “squeeze the vital energy out of the human being” and “the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the people in general, although a few only can live lavishly by exploitation.” (SB 1.8.40)
“The productive energy of the laborer is misused when he is occupied by industrial enterprises.… The production of machines and machine tools increases the artificial living fashion of a class of vested interests and keeps thousands of men in starvation and unrest This should not be the standard of civilization.” (SB 1.9.6)
There is one instance. Not very long ago, say, about two hundred years ago there was a big zamindar. He was known as king in Krishnanagar. So he was charitably disposed. He went to a brahmana and asked him — he was a great learned scholar — “Can I help you any way?” And the pandit replied, “No. I don’t require your help. I am quite satisfied.” “How you are satisfied?” “Oh, my, these students, they bring some rice. So my wife boils that, and I have got this tamarind tree. I take some leaves and prepare some juice out of it. That is sufficient.” So he was satisfied. That’s all. But he was a learned scholar. Similarly, Canakya Pandit... You have perhaps heard. He was the greatest politician. He was prime minister of India. He was living in a cottage and just giving instruction. So that is India’s Vedic civilization. Everyone is satisfied, self-sufficient. And now in your country, oh, you have to attend office fifty miles off.
-Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation - December 21, 1970, Surat)
Terrible Industrial Enterprises
“‘Factory’ is another name for hell. At night, hellishly engaged persons take advantage of wine and women to satisfy their tired senses, but they are not even able to have sound sleep, because their various mental speculative plans constantly interrupt their sleep.” (SB 3.9.10)
“The dungeons of mines, factories, and workshops develop demoniac propensities in the working class.” Meanwhile, “the vested interests flourish at the cost of the working class, and consequently there are severe clashes between them in so many ways.” (SB 1.11.12)
“Manufacture of the ‘necessities of life’ in factories and workshops, excessively prominent in the Age of Kali, the age of the machine, is the summit of the quality of darkness.” Why? “Because factually there is no necessity for the commodities manufactured.” (SB 2.5.30)
“What is the need of an artificial luxurious life of cinema, cars, radio, flesh, and hotels? Has this civilization produced anything but quarreling individually and nationally? Has this civilization enhanced the cause of equality and fraternity by sending thousands of men into a hellish factory and the war fields at the whims of a particular man?” (SB 1.10.4)
“The real problem is how to get free from the bondage of birth, death, and old age. Attaining this freedom, and not inventing unnecessary necessities, is the basic principle of Vedic civilization.…”The modern materialistic civilization is just the opposite of the ideal civilization. Every day the so-called leaders of modern society invent something contributing to a cumbersome way of life that implicates people more and more” in the cycle of birth and death.” (SB 7.14.5)
“Now people are very busy trying to find petroleum in the midst of the ocean. They are very anxious to make provisions for the future petroleum supply, but they do not make any attempts to ameliorate the conditions of birth, old age, disease, and death.” (SB 4.28.12)
“The materialists … think that they are advancing. But according to Bhagavad-gita they are unintelligent and devoid of all sense. They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel.” (BG 16.9)
“The dungeons of mines, factories, and workshops develop demoniac propensities in the working class.” Meanwhile, “the vested interests flourish at the cost of the working class, and consequently there are severe clashes between them in so many ways.” (SB 1.11.12)
“Manufacture of the ‘necessities of life’ in factories and workshops, excessively prominent in the Age of Kali, the age of the machine, is the summit of the quality of darkness.” Why? “Because factually there is no necessity for the commodities manufactured.” (SB 2.5.30)
“What is the need of an artificial luxurious life of cinema, cars, radio, flesh, and hotels? Has this civilization produced anything but quarreling individually and nationally? Has this civilization enhanced the cause of equality and fraternity by sending thousands of men into a hellish factory and the war fields at the whims of a particular man?” (SB 1.10.4)
“The real problem is how to get free from the bondage of birth, death, and old age. Attaining this freedom, and not inventing unnecessary necessities, is the basic principle of Vedic civilization.…”The modern materialistic civilization is just the opposite of the ideal civilization. Every day the so-called leaders of modern society invent something contributing to a cumbersome way of life that implicates people more and more” in the cycle of birth and death.” (SB 7.14.5)
“Now people are very busy trying to find petroleum in the midst of the ocean. They are very anxious to make provisions for the future petroleum supply, but they do not make any attempts to ameliorate the conditions of birth, old age, disease, and death.” (SB 4.28.12)
“The materialists … think that they are advancing. But according to Bhagavad-gita they are unintelligent and devoid of all sense. They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel.” (BG 16.9)
Those who have got my books, you will see that how much profusely the earth was producing during the time of Maharaja Yudhisthira, because the executive head of the state was a pious, so how nature was helping. Nature was helping. Now India there is scarcity, scarcity of foodstuff. But the same India was producing so much grains, even during British time, that many thousands and thousand tons of rice were being exported from India to other countries. You see? That I have seen. I have seen. My maternal uncle was very rich man by simply exporting rice to the foreign countries. Yes. Spices... And old history you will find that India, they had got their own ships for exporting spices to Greece and other countries of Europe. The history is there. And they were supplying muslin cloth, even just before the British period, Muslim period. So India's export, export, I mean to say, status was far greater than other countries. And these spices and other export attracted persons from Europe, that Vasco de Gama, and the Columbus also wanted to go, but he fortunately came to America. You see? All these Europeans and the Britishers went and established their supremacy. So India was so rich. But now how that India has become so poor? The same land is there. Why? Because they have lost that old culture, God consciousness. You see? And at least my calculation is that, that a state, a secular state... Secular state means he has no... Here in America you have got state religion. You have got state religion. But in India there is no state religion. Every country has state religion. Even Pakistan, it has divided. It is now a part of India. But they have also their state religion. But unfortunately India has no state religion. That means deliberately they are trying to disconnect with God relation, godly relation. But in the same India... You just read the history, five thousand years before, how much profusely the nature was supplying. So nature can give you anything. After all, it is the nature that supplies your necessities, not the industry. Industry simply transformed in a different way, and a certain class make profit out of it. Industry does not mean really economic improvement. Real economic improvement means what you produce from the land. That requires God help. Without raw materials, even your industry cannot go on.
-Srila Prabhupada (Lecture, Bhagavad-gita, New York, April 1, 1966)
Human Society Should Depend On Natural Gifts
“According to Vedic economics, one is considered to be a rich man by the strength of his store of grains and cows. With only these two things, cows and grain, humanity can solve its eating problem.… All other things but these two are artificial necessities created by man to kill his valuable life at the human level and waste his time in things which are not needed.” (SB 3.2.29)
“If we have sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, then what is the necessity of running a slaughterhouse and killing poor animals? A man need not kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilizes the field, and there is more than what we need. Minerals are produced in the hills, and jewels in the ocean. If human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some unfortunate men?” (SB 1.8.40)
“Advancement of human civilization depends not on industrial enterprises but on possession of natural wealth and natural food, which is all supplied by the Supreme Personality of Godhead so that we may save time for self-realization and success in the human form of body.” (SB 4.9.62)
Srila Prabhupada cites the example of Lord Krishna’s ancient city of Dvaraka. “Dvaraka was surrounded by flower gardens and fruit orchards along with reservoirs of water and growing lotuses. There is no mention of mills and factories supported by slaughterhouses, which are the necessary paraphernalia of the modern metropolis.…
“It is understood that the whole dhama, or residential quarter, was surrounded by gardens and parks with reservoirs of water where lotuses grew … All the people depended on nature’s gifts of fruits and flowers without industrial enterprises promoting filthy huts and slums for residential quarters.” (SB 1.11.12)
“If we have sufficient grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, then what is the necessity of running a slaughterhouse and killing poor animals? A man need not kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilizes the field, and there is more than what we need. Minerals are produced in the hills, and jewels in the ocean. If human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some unfortunate men?” (SB 1.8.40)
“Advancement of human civilization depends not on industrial enterprises but on possession of natural wealth and natural food, which is all supplied by the Supreme Personality of Godhead so that we may save time for self-realization and success in the human form of body.” (SB 4.9.62)
Srila Prabhupada cites the example of Lord Krishna’s ancient city of Dvaraka. “Dvaraka was surrounded by flower gardens and fruit orchards along with reservoirs of water and growing lotuses. There is no mention of mills and factories supported by slaughterhouses, which are the necessary paraphernalia of the modern metropolis.…
“It is understood that the whole dhama, or residential quarter, was surrounded by gardens and parks with reservoirs of water where lotuses grew … All the people depended on nature’s gifts of fruits and flowers without industrial enterprises promoting filthy huts and slums for residential quarters.” (SB 1.11.12)
Demoniac Civilization
“The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables, fruits, rivers, the hills of jewels and minerals, and the seas full of pearls are supplied by the order of the Supreme, and as He desires, material nature produces them in abundance or restricts them at times. The natural law is that the human being may take advantage of these godly gifts by nature and flourish on them without being captivated by the exploitative motive of lording it over material Nature.” (SB 1.8.40)
“All these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service.” (SB 1.8.40)
“Everyone is acting under the influence of material nature, and only fools think they can improve upon what God has created.” (SB 7.14.7)
“The prosperity of humanity does not depend on a demoniac civilization that has no culture and no knowledge but only gigantic skyscrapers and huge automobiles always rushing down the highways. The products of nature are sufficient.” (SB 5.16.24)
“Ample food grains can be produced through agricultural enterprises, and profuse supplies of milk, yogurt, and ghee can be arranged through cow protection. Abundant honey can be obtained if the forests are protected.
“Unfortunately, in modern civilization, men are busy killing the cows that are the source of yogurt, milk, and ghee, they are cutting down all the trees that supply honey, and they are opening factories to manufacture nuts, bolts, automobiles, and wine instead of engaging in agriculture. How can the people be happy? They must suffer from all the misery of materialism. Their bodies become wrinkled and gradually deteriorate until they become almost like dwarves, and a bad odor emanates from their bodies because of unclean perspiration from eating all kinds of nasty things. This is not human civilization.” (SB 5.16.25)
“All these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection of human life by devotional service.” (SB 1.8.40)
“Everyone is acting under the influence of material nature, and only fools think they can improve upon what God has created.” (SB 7.14.7)
“The prosperity of humanity does not depend on a demoniac civilization that has no culture and no knowledge but only gigantic skyscrapers and huge automobiles always rushing down the highways. The products of nature are sufficient.” (SB 5.16.24)
“Ample food grains can be produced through agricultural enterprises, and profuse supplies of milk, yogurt, and ghee can be arranged through cow protection. Abundant honey can be obtained if the forests are protected.
“Unfortunately, in modern civilization, men are busy killing the cows that are the source of yogurt, milk, and ghee, they are cutting down all the trees that supply honey, and they are opening factories to manufacture nuts, bolts, automobiles, and wine instead of engaging in agriculture. How can the people be happy? They must suffer from all the misery of materialism. Their bodies become wrinkled and gradually deteriorate until they become almost like dwarves, and a bad odor emanates from their bodies because of unclean perspiration from eating all kinds of nasty things. This is not human civilization.” (SB 5.16.25)
A Higher Goal of Life
“Advancement of civilization is estimated not on the growth of mills and factories to deteriorate the finer instincts of the human being, but on developing the potent spiritual instincts of human beings and giving them a chance to go back to Godhead.… Human energy should be properly utilized in developing the finer senses for spiritual understanding, in which lies the solution of life.” (SB 1.11.12)
“Nature already has an arrangement to feed us,” Srila Prabhupada says. “The Lord has provided food for both the elephant and the ant.…
“Therefore one who is intelligent should not work very hard for material comforts. Rather, one should save his energy for advancing in Krishna consciousness.” (SB 7.14.14)
“Demons are very much interested in advancing a plan by which people will labor hard like cats, dogs, and hogs, but Krishna’s devotees want to teach Krishna consciousness so that people will be satisfied with plain living and Krishna conscious advancement.” (SB 9.24.59)
“The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely lording it over the material resources. The more human society engages in the exploitation of undeveloped material resources for sense gratification, the more it will be entrapped by the illusory, material energy of the Lord, and thus the distress of the world will be intensified instead of diminished.” (SB 2.2.37)
“Advancement of human civilization must be towards the goal of establishing our lost relationship with God, which is not possible in any form of life other than the human. One must realize the nullity of the material phenomenon, considering it a passing phantasmagoria, and must endeavor to make a solution to the miseries of life. Self-complacence with a polished type of animal civilization geared to sense gratification is delusion, and such a ‘civilization’ is not worthy of the name.” (SB 2.2.4)
“The materialistic advancement of civilization … ultimately ends in wars and scarcity. The transcendentalist is specifically warned to be fixed in mind, so that even if there is difficulty in plain living and high thinking he will not budge even an inch from his stark determination.” (SB 2.2.3)
“All human society is meant to worship Lord Visnu [God]. At the present moment, however, human society does not know that this is the ultimate goal or perfection of life. Therefore instead of worshiping Lord Visnu, people have been educated to worship matter.
“According to the direction of modern society, men think they can advance in civilization by manipulating matter to build skyscrapers, big roads, automobiles and so on. Such a civilization must certainly be called materialistic because its people do not know the goal of life.
“The goal of life is to reach Visnu, but instead of reaching Visnu, people are bewildered by the external manifestation of the material energy. Therefore progress in material advancement is blind, and the leaders of such material advancement are also blind. They are leading their followers in the wrong way.” (SB 5.1.14)
“Life is never made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living and high thinking.” (SB 2.2.37)
“Nature already has an arrangement to feed us,” Srila Prabhupada says. “The Lord has provided food for both the elephant and the ant.…
“Therefore one who is intelligent should not work very hard for material comforts. Rather, one should save his energy for advancing in Krishna consciousness.” (SB 7.14.14)
“Demons are very much interested in advancing a plan by which people will labor hard like cats, dogs, and hogs, but Krishna’s devotees want to teach Krishna consciousness so that people will be satisfied with plain living and Krishna conscious advancement.” (SB 9.24.59)
“The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely lording it over the material resources. The more human society engages in the exploitation of undeveloped material resources for sense gratification, the more it will be entrapped by the illusory, material energy of the Lord, and thus the distress of the world will be intensified instead of diminished.” (SB 2.2.37)
“Advancement of human civilization must be towards the goal of establishing our lost relationship with God, which is not possible in any form of life other than the human. One must realize the nullity of the material phenomenon, considering it a passing phantasmagoria, and must endeavor to make a solution to the miseries of life. Self-complacence with a polished type of animal civilization geared to sense gratification is delusion, and such a ‘civilization’ is not worthy of the name.” (SB 2.2.4)
“The materialistic advancement of civilization … ultimately ends in wars and scarcity. The transcendentalist is specifically warned to be fixed in mind, so that even if there is difficulty in plain living and high thinking he will not budge even an inch from his stark determination.” (SB 2.2.3)
“All human society is meant to worship Lord Visnu [God]. At the present moment, however, human society does not know that this is the ultimate goal or perfection of life. Therefore instead of worshiping Lord Visnu, people have been educated to worship matter.
“According to the direction of modern society, men think they can advance in civilization by manipulating matter to build skyscrapers, big roads, automobiles and so on. Such a civilization must certainly be called materialistic because its people do not know the goal of life.
“The goal of life is to reach Visnu, but instead of reaching Visnu, people are bewildered by the external manifestation of the material energy. Therefore progress in material advancement is blind, and the leaders of such material advancement are also blind. They are leading their followers in the wrong way.” (SB 5.1.14)
“Life is never made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living and high thinking.” (SB 2.2.37)
The Blind Man And the Lame Man Together
“At the present moment, India may be compared to the lame man and the Western countries to the blind man. For the past two thousand years India has been subjugated by the rule of foreigners, and the legs of progress have been broken. In the Western countries the eyes of the people have become blind due to the dazzling glitter of material opulence.
“The blind man of the Western countries and the lame man of India should combine together,” Srila Prabhupada says. “Then the lame man of India can walk with the help of the Westerner, and the blind Westerner can see with the help of the lame man. In short, the material advancement of the Western countries and the spiritual assets of India should combine for the elevation of all human society.” (SB 4.25.15)
“One who understands the purpose of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, should seriously understand the importance of the Krishna consciousness movement and seriously take part in it. One should not endeavor for ugra-karma, or unnecessary work for sense gratification.” (SB 9.24.59)
“The blind man of the Western countries and the lame man of India should combine together,” Srila Prabhupada says. “Then the lame man of India can walk with the help of the Westerner, and the blind Westerner can see with the help of the lame man. In short, the material advancement of the Western countries and the spiritual assets of India should combine for the elevation of all human society.” (SB 4.25.15)
“One who understands the purpose of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, should seriously understand the importance of the Krishna consciousness movement and seriously take part in it. One should not endeavor for ugra-karma, or unnecessary work for sense gratification.” (SB 9.24.59)
