Revise The Whole Edition Of Western Civilization
Śrīla Prabhupāda challenges the foundational principles of modern society, calling for a complete overhaul of how humanity operates. He argues that Western civilization, despite its technological prowess, acts as a headless body—blindly driving towards material gratification without spiritual vision. The following article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda's mandate to his disciples: to train themselves in brahminical culture and fundamentally revise the structure of Western civilization to include the missing spiritual dimension.
Obsession with Bodily Necessities
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently points out that a civilization dedicated solely to the body is no better than a polished animal society. He explains that while the body requires maintenance, the exclusion of spiritual nourishment creates an imbalance that defeats the purpose of the human form of life.
- Because we are spiritual beings. That I was trying to explain. That we have bodily necessities, at the same time we have spiritual necessities. This Western civilization they are simply after the bodily necessities.
- The whole Western civilization, they do not know what is the aim of life. Naturally the aim of life becomes like animals - eat, drink, have sex and defend. That's all. That is the Western civilization.
- He's human being born. Making him animal by culture. Instead of making him more cultured towards the spiritual life, making him redirected again to animal life. This is the civilization, Western civilization.
Material Advancement as Exploitation
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, what is often celebrated as economic progress is actually a path to moral degradation. He notes that the accumulation of unnecessary wealth, when divorced from spiritual culture, inevitably drives the population toward sinful activities such as intoxication and gambling.
- So the Western type of civilization, industrialism and capitalism, is no material advancement. It is material exploitation.
- In Western civilization, these three things (wine, women and gambling) are very prominent because of an unnecessary increase of wealth.
- The economic development's cow killing. Just see, rascal civilization. Don't be sorry. It is sastra. Don't think that I am criticizing the Western civilization. It is sastra says. Very experienced.
Lack of Spiritual Authority
A headless society cannot function properly, and Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the lack of brāhmaṇas—the brain of the social body—as the fatal defect of the West. He criticizes the democratic reliance on the opinions of the unqualified masses, arguing that society requires guidance from those who understand the absolute truth.
- That is the defect of Western civilization. Vox populi, taking opinion of the public. But what is the value of this public? Drunkards, smokers, meat-eaters, woman-hunters.
- Western civilization is not brahminical culture. There is no brahminical culture. And brahminical culture is needed. That is the head. That is the brain.
- They know how to live comfortably in the material world, but there is no spiritual information. Missing point. That is the defect of the Western civilization. They have got some vague idea of God, practically no idea.
The Mandate to Revise Civilization
Śrīla Prabhupāda places a heavy responsibility on his followers to not only practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness but to use it to reshape the world's misguided trajectory. He envisions a new chapter in history where the Western capacity for organization and technology is utilized under the direction of Vedic wisdom.
- But Krsna's grace, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's grace, they are being now trained up. Now you be trained up and revise the whole edition of the western civilization, especially in America. Then a new chapter will come in. This is the program.
- Now you be trained up and revise the whole edition of the western civilization, especially in America. Then a new chapter will come in. This is the program. Therefore varnasrama school required.
- Whatever has been done is done. Now, this is the time for Western civilization to understand that simply material advancement is not the all in all of life.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's critique of Western civilization is rooted in compassion, aiming to save humanity from a polished form of animal life that ends in spiritual suicide. He observed that the West has perfected the art of living comfortably but has completely lost the knowledge of why one lives at all. By introducing the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, he sought to "revise the whole edition" of this civilization, providing the missing spiritual "head" to the technological body of the West. His instruction remains clear: do not merely imitate the material progress, but spiritualize it, turning the energy of the world toward the service of the Supreme Lord.
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 Western Civilization. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.