Modern Education Has No Information of the Spiritual World
The advancement of human civilization is often measured by material comfort and scientific achievement. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies a fundamental flaw in this progress: a complete lack of knowledge regarding the eternal destination of the soul. Because modern education has no information of the spiritual world, humanity remains trapped in the bodily concept of life, unaware that a peaceful, eternal existence awaits beyond the material covering.
Gap in Modern Knowledge
Western civilization and modern education systems are expert in teaching how to live comfortably within the material atmosphere. Yet, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that they possess practically no understanding of the spiritual identity or the kingdom of God. This ignorance forces people to believe that the material world is all in all, leading to a life centered on the temporary body and social conventions found in newspapers and magazines.
- 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.
- Unfortunately, in the modern education there is no information of the spiritual world, the spiritual identity, God, our relationship with God - nothing.
- One who has no information of the spiritual world, they are interested in these newspaper and magazines. Apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam. Grhesu means they have an impact of understanding: "This is my body" or - This is my society.
Error of Voidism and Impersonalism
This lack of information is not limited to secular education; Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it pervades speculative philosophy as well. The Buddhists and the Māyāvādīs (impersonalists) perceive the suffering inherent in material variety and therefore conclude that the Ultimate Truth must be void or zero. They fail to understand that spiritual variety exists without material inebriety.
- Buddhist do not give any information of the spiritual world, but they do not like this material world; they want to finish it.
- The Mayavadi philosophers, they have no information of the spiritual world. Therefore they are thinking that spirit means something void of all these varieties. They cannot conceive that in the variety there can be enjoyment.
- The Mayavadi philosophers, they are thinking, "Again attraction like this? So make it zero, no attraction. Become zero." So their philosophy is zero philosophy. That is also no information of the spiritual world.
Nature of the Spiritual World
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes one more point regarding the "zero philosophy": contrary to this idea, the Vedic scriptures describe the spiritual world as a tangible reality. It is the manifestation of Kṛṣṇa's internal potency, characterized by eternity (sanātana) and complete peace (śānti). It is far superior to and larger than the material creation.
- Nityah sasvato 'yam na hanyate hanyamane sarire (BG 2.20). That is spiritual world. So that spiritual world, we have no information, but we have got little experience. Spiritual world means complete peaceful, santi.
- This material world is manifestation of the external potency of Krsna, whereas the spiritual world is the manifestation of His internal potency. Unfortunately, the modern advancement of education has no information what is that spiritual world.
- There is another nature, which is spiritual world. They have no information. But we get information from Bhagavad-gita and other sastras that spiritual world is still bigger.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that without knowledge of the spiritual world, human beings are condemned to the false ego of bodily identification. The solution is to turn to the authority of the Bhagavad-gītā, which gives precise information about the eternal nature beyond the visible cosmos. By accessing this knowledge, one can break free from the cycle of material entanglement.
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 No Information of the Spiritual World. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.