The Illusion of Bodily Comforts
In the modern world, the standard of civilization is often measured by the degree of bodily comforts available to the citizens. However, this metric is challenged in Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings as a grand illusion. Because the material body is temporary and destructible, any attempt to find permanent happiness through physical ease is ultimately futile. Real human life, he explains, begins only when one rises above the demands of the body to inquire about the needs of the soul.
Animalistic Civilization
A society focused purely on bodily comforts is frequently compared to the society of animals. Eating, sleeping, defending, and mating are propensities shared by both humans and animals alike. If a human being simply utilizes their advanced intelligence to perform these functions more comfortably—sleeping on a soft mattress instead of the ground, or eating served meals instead of hunting—Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that they are still acting essentially on the animal platform.
- Bodily comforts means to eat, sleep, to have sense gratification and to defend. So that is being done by the animals also, in their own way. So if we simply devote our time for these animal necessities of our life, then we are no better than animals.
- The human being has got higher brain capacity. That should be utilized not only for bodily comforts. Bodily comforts, the animals, they are also trying.
- Essentially such activities (of concentrating on this ism and that ism which stress the bodily comforts of life) are the activities of animals (sa eva go-kharah) - SB 10.84.13.
The Failure of Material Solutions
A key argument in this philosophy is that bodily comforts cannot solve the ultimate problems of existence. Despite the immense advancement in material science and economic development, no one has been able to stop death, disease, or old age. A rich man dies just as a poor man does; the comfort of his bed does not save him. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda deems the exclusive pursuit of comfort a waste of valuable human energy.
- Bodily comfort, however, is not enough. Suppose a man is very comfortably situated. Does it mean he will not die? Of course not.
- The history of the world has factually proved that attempts to increase economic development for bodily comfort through the advancement of material civilization have done nothing to remedy the inevitability of birth, death, old age and disease.
- We speak of a struggle for existence and survival of the fittest, but bodily comforts alone cannot enable anyone to exist or survive permanently. Therefore, taking care of the body only is called dharmasya glanih, or pollution of one's duty.
Austerity and Spiritual Advancement
To advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must voluntarily accept some degree of inconvenience. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that tapasya, or austerity, means reducing the comforts of the body—eating less, sleeping less—to facilitate spiritual realization. He often cites the example of the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, who were high ministers but voluntarily accepted the life of mendicants to cultivate the deepest spiritual emotions.
- Austerity means to accept voluntarily things which may not be very comfortable for the body but are conducive for spiritual realization.
- Becoming fat is not a very good qualification in spiritual life because a person who is engaged in spiritual life must reduce the comforts of the body - namely eating, sleeping and mating - to a minimum.
- Just as a father sacrifices many things out of affection for his son, great saintly persons sacrifice all kinds of bodily comforts for the benefit of human society.
The Real Duty of the Soul
Finally, a distinction must be made between the needs of the body and the needs of the self. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines dharma not as religious faith, but as one's constitutional duty. Unfortunately, in the bodily concept of life, people mistakenly think their duty is to supply the body with comforts. We are urged to rectify this mistake by understanding that we are spirit souls, and our real comfort lies in serving the Supreme Lord.
- Dharma means one's actual constitutional duty. It is one's duty to know the needs of the soul, but unfortunately we have no information of the soul and are simply busy supplying the necessities for bodily comfort.
- We cannot spare our valuable time for bodily comforts, sacrificing our real aim of life, self-realization. That is not civilization. That is animal civilization. First consideration is self-realization.
- This body is antavat, it is to be perishable, therefore asat. Asato ma sad gama, the Vedic injunction is. Don't be addicted to this asat, this bodily comforts of life. Sad-gama: try to revive your eternal life.
Conclusion
These teachings serve as a wake-up call to a world mesmerized by the illusion of material progress. Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that bodily comforts are fleeting and deceptive. By minimizing our attachment to physical ease and maximizing our dedication to spiritual growth, we can achieve a state of happiness that no amount of material luxury can provide.
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 Bodily Comforts. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.