Real Human Life - Beyond Animal Existence
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, there is a vast gulf between a biological human being and "real human life." While modern civilization focuses on sophisticated ways to eat, sleep, and mate, Vedic wisdom teaches that real human life begins only when one adopts regulative principles and inquires into the nature of the self. Without this spiritual foundation, human society is nothing more than a polished society of animals.
Regulation and Varṇāśrama
The first step in distinguishing oneself from the animals is the acceptance of dharma, or religious principles. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that real human society must be organized according to varṇāśrama-dharma—the scientific division of society into four social and four spiritual orders. This structure provides the necessary regulation to elevate a person from the mode of ignorance to the platform of goodness.
- All fifth-class, sixth-class men. No regulative principle. The human life is meant for regulative principles. Just like we are insisting our students only for regulative principles just to make them real human life.
- The system of four orders of life and four castes in terms of quality and work, known as varnasrama-dharma, is the beginning of real human life.
- This is real human society (where people are divided as brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras) and without this system we are left with animal society.
The Vital Inquiry
A real human being is not satisfied with temporary material happiness; they are driven by the urge to understand the Absolute Truth. Using the Vedānta aphorism athāto brahma jijñāsā, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that unless one asks, "Why am I suffering? Why am I not free?", they have not yet begun their actual life. This inquiry is the hallmark of human intelligence.
- Athato brahma jijnasa. Then the question will be that "Why I am not free? What is the reason?" Then that is, real human life begins. Otherwise he's a dog.
- That is real human life, when he inquires about the Absolute Truth. Otherwise, it is animal life.
- Such questions (who he is, what the universe is, what God is, and what the relationship is between himself, God and the material world) cannot be asked by cats and dogs, but they must arise in the heart of a real human being.
The Goal: Conquering Death
The ultimate mission of human life is to stop the cycle of birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by understanding Kṛṣṇa, one can achieve the state of tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti—giving up the body and never taking birth again. Any civilization that does not aim for this liberation (apavarga) is missing the point of existence.
- When one understands fully Krsna - fully it is not possible; at least partially - he is conquering over death. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. That is real human life, how to conquer over death.
- The real mission of human life is to get free from encagement in the material body. Therefore Krsna descends to teach the conditioned soul about spiritual realization and how to become free from material bondage.
- This is here real human life - human society cultivating knowledge in such a way that apavarga-vardhanam, gradually we are going forward for liberation. That is human civilization.
The Mission of Compassion
Real human life is also characterized by para-upakāra—working for the welfare of others. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is an attempt to raise "animal-like humans" to the status of real human beings by giving them knowledge. This selfless service, as taught by Lord Caitanya, is the highest duty of a civilized person.
- Real human business is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's para-upakara. In ignorance they are doing all nonsense. Stop them. Give them knowledge. This Krsna conscious movement is real civilization. That we have to prove.
- We are trying to raise the animal-like humans to real human status.
- If we don't come to this platform, then we remain animals. So this Krsna consciousness movement means we are trying to bring human being to the platform of spiritual consciousness or real human being.
Conclusion
To live without God consciousness is to waste the valuable human form. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges us to utilize the schools, universities, and institutions not for material advancement, but to cultivate the knowledge that leads to self-realization. Real human life begins when we accept the authority of the Vedas, control our senses, and dedicate ourselves to 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 Real Human Life. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.