Controlling Animal Propensities in Human Life

The distinction between human life and animal life is not merely biological but spiritual. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the four basic activities—eating, sleeping, mating, and defending—are "animal propensities" common to all species. However, human life is a unique opportunity to transcend these instincts. If a human being dedicates their life simply to satisfying these propensities in a more sophisticated manner, they remain on the animal platform. True civilization begins with the control of these urges and the cultivation of spiritual knowledge.

Polished Animal Life

Modern society is often mistaken for advanced civilization because of its technological prowess. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda analyzes it as "polished animal life." Whether one eats in a jungle or a restaurant, sleeps on the ground or a soft mattress, the activity remains the same. The obsession with these four principles—without spiritual inquiry—reduces human society to a collection of rational animals.

• Generally mankind is simply engaged in the animal propensities, namely eating, sleeping, defending and mating, and hardly anyone is interested in transcendental knowledge.
• Our modern activities are animal activities but in a polished way. But that does not make any difference between the animal propensity and so-called civilized life.
• These animal propensities are eating, sleeping, mating and fearing. You can analyze the trend of modern civilization: everyone is busy with these four principles of animal life.
• The animal propensity - he is seeing his wife daily naked, and still he is going to see naked dance, and paying some fees. Because they have no engagement except this animalism.

Misusing Intelligence

Humans possess a higher intelligence compared to animals, but this asset is frequently misused. Instead of asking "Who am I?" and "What is the goal of life?", modern education trains people to utilize their brainpower to facilitate animal propensities. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that if one does not inquire into the Absolute Truth, their education is useless, and their life is wasted.

• The human beings are understood to be the most intelligent of all living creatures, but they are misusing their intelligence. How? They are misusing their intelligence by devoting it to the animal propensities.
• Thus his (human being) intelligence is misused in the animal propensities - eating, sleeping, defending and mating - instead of spiritual realization.
• Man is called a rational animal, but his rationality is being used to further his animalistic propensities instead of to find out how to get liberation from this miserable condition - birth, old age, disease, and death.
• A dog cannot be educated to understand God but a man can be. So if this human life is misused in the matter of animal propensities then it is a great loss. His propensities for understanding God should be aroused that is real education.

Consequences of Uncontrolled Life

There are severe karmic consequences for neglecting the spiritual purpose of human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that nature is not sentimental; if a human behaves like an animal, they are forced to take birth in lower species to facilitate those propensities without the inhibition of conscience. This degradation is the greatest loss for the soul.

• If we simply waste our time for the animal propensities of life, then again we glide down to the animal life. That is a great loss.
• When one misuses the gift of the human form by unnecessarily indulging in animal propensities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending he is again punished by being forced to descend to the lower species and undergo evolution according to the laws of nature.
• Unfortunately, especially in this age, men and women unite for unrestricted sexual enjoyment. Thus they are victimized.
• Those who are bewildered by the external features of the material world and are engaged in the animal propensities of the eat-drink-and-be-merry type of life are simply wasting their lives by the unseen passing away of valuable years.

The Solution: Tapasya and Service

The definition of a true human is one who can control their urges. This is called tapasya (austerity). Furthermore, the human propensity should be to do good to others (loka-hitam), in contrast to the animal propensity of exploitation. By becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, one naturally overcomes the lower instincts and engages in the highest welfare work.

• Human civilization means we have got so many animal propensities, and if we can control them, that is advancement of human civilization. Just try to understand.
• Some tapasya is certainly required. Without it, one can not advance in spiritual life or knowledge. If we simply engage in the animal propensities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, not accepting the tapasya process, human life is a failure.
• Animal propensity is to exploit others. And human propensity should be to do good to others. That is the difference between animal propensity and human propensity. So here is a nice thing, Krsna consciousness. Why should you not distribute?
• Be Krsna conscious. Be a devotee of Lord Krsna. Don't spoil your life in simply fulfilling your animal propensities. Human life is meant for self-realization, or Krsna consciousness. These are the preachings of a sadhu.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice before humanity is between the Aryan path of spiritual progress and the non-Aryan path of animalistic degradation. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges us to utilize the valuable human energy not for the temporary satisfaction of the senses, but for self-realization, which is the only way to find permanent happiness and avoid the cycle of birth and death.

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 Animal Propensities. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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