Sometimes people boast, We have gone from the hut to the skyscraper. They think this is progress. But in the Vedic system of civilization, one thinks about how much he is advanced in self-realization.

Social Organization with a Spiritual Perspective

Sri Guru and Gauranga

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Dog's race vs spiritual progress

PRABHUPADA: The Vedic civilization of self-realization begins from the varnashram system of social organization. Varnashramacharavata purushena parah puman vishnur aradhyate: [Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya 8.58] "Everyone should offer up the fruits of his occupational duty to the lotus feet of the Lord Vishnu , or Krishna." That is why the Vedic system is called varnashram—literally, "social organization with a spiritual perspective."

The varnashram system has four social and four spiritual divisions. the social divisions are the brahmanas [teachers and priests], kshatriyas [administrators and military men], vaishyas [farmers and merchants], and shudras [laborers and craftsmen], while the spiritual divisions are the brahmacharis [students], grihasthas [householders], vanaprasthas [retirees], and sannyasis [renunciants]. But the ultimate goal is vishnur aradhyate—the worship of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, by all. That is the idea.

But the members of the modern so-called civilization do not know of varnashram. Therefore they have created a society that is simply a dog's race. The dog is running on four legs, and thay are running on four wheels. That's all. And they think the four-wheel race is advancement of civilization. Vedic civilization is different. As Narada Muni says, tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah: [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.18] the learned, astute person will use this life to gain what he has missed in countless prior lives—namely, realization of self and realization of God.

Someone may ask, "Then shall we do nothing?" Yes do nothing simply to improve your material position. Whatever material happiness is allotted for you by destiny, you'll get it wherever you are. Take to Krishna consciousness. You'll get these other things besides. "How shall I get them?" How? Kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa: by the arrangement of eternal time, everything will come about in due course. The example is given that even though you do not want distress, still distress comes upon you. Similarly, even if you do not work hard for the happiness that is destined to be yours, still it will come. Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja says, na tat-prayasah kartavyam: you should not waste your energy for material happiness, because you cannot get more than what you are destined to have. That is not possible. "How can I believe it—that by working harder I will not get more material happiness than I would otherwise have had?" Because you are undergoing so many distressing conditions even though you do not want them. Who wants distress? For example, in our country, Mahatma Gandhi was killed by his own countrymen. He was a great man, he was protected by so many followers, he was beloved by all—and still he was killed. Destiny. Who can protect you from all these distressing conditions? "So," you should conclude, "if these distressing conditions come upon me by force, the other kind of condition, the opposite number, will also come. Therefore why shall I waste my time trying to avoid distress and gain so-called happiness? Let me utilize my energy for Krishna consciousness." That is intelligence. You cannot check your destiny. The magazine's question touches on this point.

PUSTA KRSNA: Yes, the usual charge is that this Vedic system of civilization is fatalistic, and that as a result people are not making as much material progress as they otherwise would.

PRABHUPADA: No, no, the Vedic system is not fatalistic. It is fatalistic only in the sense that one's material destiny cannot be changed. But your spiritual life is in your hands. our point is this: The whole Vedic civilization is based on the understanding that destiny allows only a certain amount of material happiness in this world, and that our efforts should therefore be directed toward self-realization. Nobody is enjoying uninterrupted material happiness. That is not possible. A certain amount of material happiness and a certain amount of material distress—these both must be present always. So just as you cannot check your distressing condition of life, similarly you cannot check your happy condition of life. It will come automatically. Therefore, don't waste your time with these things. better you utilize your energy for advancing in Krishna consciousness.

PUSTA KRSNA: So then, Srila Prabhupada, would it be accurate, after all, to say that people who have this Vedic conception would not try for progress?

PRABHUPADA: No, no. "Progress"—first you must understand what actual progress is. The thing is that if you try to progress vainly, what is the use of trying? If it is a fact you cannot change your material destiny, why should you try for that? Rather, whatever energy you have, utilize it for understanding Krishna consciousness. That is real progress. Make your spiritual understanding—your understanding of God and self—perfectly clear. For instance, in our International Society for Krishna Consciousness, our main business is how to make advancement in Krishna consciousness. We are not enthusiastic about opening big, big factories with big, big money-earning machines. No. We are satisfied with whatever material happiness and distress we are destined. But we are very eager to utilize our energy for progressing in Krishna consciousness. This is the point.

So the Vedic system of civilization is meant for realizing God: vishnur aradhyate. In the Vedic system, people try for that. Actually, the followers of varnashram-dharma—they never tried for economic development. You'll find in India, still, millions of people taking bath in the Ganges during Kumbha-mela. Have you have been to the Kumbha-mela festival?

DISCIPLE: No.

PRABHUPADA: At the Kumbha-mela, millions of people come to take bath in the Ganges because they are interested in how to become spiritually liberated from this material world. They're not lazy. They tavel thousands of miles to take bath in the Ganges at the holy place of Prayag. So although they are not busy in the dog's race, these people are not lazy. Ya nisha sarva-bhutanam tasyam jagarti samyami: "What is night for ordinary beings is the time of wakefulness for the self-controlled." The self-controlled man wakes up very early—practically in the middle of the night—and works for spiritual realization while others are sleeping. Similarly, during the daytime the dogs and asses think, "We are working, but these spiritualists, they are not working."

So there are two different platforms, the material and the spiritual. Followers of the Vedic civilization, which is practiced in India—although nowadays it is distorted—actually, these people are not lazy. They are very, very busy. Not only very, very busy, but also kaumara acharet prajño dharman bhagavatan iha: [SB 7.6.1] they are trying to become self-realized from the very beginning of life. They are so busy that they want to begin the busy-ness from their very childhood. Therefore it is wrong to think they are lazy.

People who accuse followers of Vedic civilization of laziness or of "inhibiting progress" do not know what real progress is. The Vedic civilization is not interested in the false progress of economic development. For instance, sometimes people boast, "We have gone from the hut to the skyscraper." They think this is progress. But in the Vedic system of civilization, one thinks about how much he is advanced in self-realization. He may live in a hut and become very advanced in self-realzation. But if he wastes his time turning his hut into a skyscraper, then his whole life is wasted, finished. And in his next life he is going to be a dog, although he does not know it. That's all.

PUSTA KRSNA: Srila Prabhupada, then this question may be raised: If destiny cannot be checked, then why not, when a child is born, simply let him run around like an animal? And whatever happens to him . . .

PRABHUPADA: No. That is the advantage of this human form of life. You can train the child spiritually. That is possible. Therefore it is said, tasyaiva hetoh prayeteta kovido: use this priceless human form to attain what you could not attain in so many millions of lower forms. For that spiritual purpose you should engage your energy. That advantage is open to you now, in the human form. Ahaituky apratihata: pure devotional service to the Lord, Krishna consciousness, is open to you now, and it cannot be checked. Just as your advancement of so-called material happiness is already destined and cannot be checked, similarly, your advancement in spiritual life cannot be checked—if you endeavor for it. No one can check your spiritual advancement. Try to understand this.

PUSTA KRSNA: So, then, we can't say that the Vedic system, or sanatana-dharma, is fatalistic. There actually is endeavor for progress.

PRABHUPADA: Certainly—spiritual progress. As for the question of "fatalistic," I have often given this example: Let us say a man is condemmed by a court of law to be hanged. Nobody can check it. Even the same judge who gave the verdict cannot check it. But if the man begs for the mercy of the king, the king can check the execution. He can go totally above the law. Therefore the Brahma-samhita [5.54] says, karmani nirdahati kintu cha bhakti-bhajam: destiny can be changed by Krishna for His devotees; otherwise it is not possible. Therefore our only business should be to surrender to Krishna. And if you artificially want to be more happy by economic development, that is not possible.

PUSTA KRSNA: Question number three?

PRABHUPADA: Hm? No. First of all make sure that everything is clear. Why are you so eager to progress? [Laughter]

Try to understand what is what. The first thing is that your destiny cannot be changed. That's a fact. But in spite of your destiny, if you try for Krishna consciousness, you can achieve spiritual success. Otherwise, why did Prahlada Maharaja urge his friends, kaumara acaret: "Take Krishna consciousness up from your very childhood"? If destiny cannot be changed, then why was Prahlada Maharaja urging this? Generally, "destiny" means your material future. That you cannot change. But even that can be changed when you are in spiritual life.

PUSTA KRSNA: What is the meaning of apratihata? You said that spiritual development cannot be checked.

PRABHUPADA: Apratihata means this: Suppose you are destined to suffer. So apratihata means that in spite of your so-called destiny to suffer, if you take to Krishna consciousness your suffering will be reduced, or there will be no suffering—and in spite of any suffering, you can make progress in spiritual life. Just like Prahlada Maharaja himself. His father put him into so many suffering conditions, but he was not impeded—he made spiritual progress. He didn't care about his father's attempts to make him suffer. That state of existence is called apratihata: if you want to execute Krishna consciousness, your material condition of life cannot check it. That is the real platform of progress.

Of course, insofar as your material condition is concerned, generally that cannot be checked. You have to suffer. But in the case of a devotee, that suffering also can be stopped or minimized. Otherwise, Krishna's statement would be false—aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami [Bhagavad-gita 18.66]: "I will deliver you from all the reactions to your sinful activities." Suffering must befall me on account of my sinful activities, but Krishna says, "I will deliver you from all the reactions to your sinful activities." This should be clear. Ordinarily, destiny cannot be checked. Therefore, instead of wasting your time trying to change your economic condition or material destiny apart from Krishna consciousness, you should employ your priceless human energy for attaining Krishna consciousness, which cannot be checked.

We see so many men working so hard. Does this mean that every one of them will become a Ford, a Rockefeller? Why not? Everyone is trying his best. But Mr. Ford was destined to become a rich man. His destiny was there, and so he became a rich man. Another man may work just as hard as Ford, but this does not mean he will become as rich as Ford. This is practical. You cannot change your destiny simply by working hard like asses and dogs. No. But you can utilize your special human energy for improving your Krishna consciousness. That's a fact.