First Class Propaganda – Why We Must Become Disgusted with Material Life
In a world that constantly bombards us with advertisements promising happiness through consumption, the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness offers a radical counter-narrative: the necessity of becoming disgusted. Śrīla Prabhupāda boldly asserts that inducing disgust for material life is "first class propaganda." It serves as a hammer-blow to the proponents of materialism and atheism. This disgust is not a symptom of depression, but of sanity. It is the awakening of the soul from the nightmare of material repetition to the reality of spiritual bliss.
A Sign of Advancement
One might ask, "Is it healthy to be disgusted with life?" Śrīla Prabhupāda answers that it depends on the object of disgust. To be disgusted with the darkness of ignorance is the sign of a human being. Animals are never disgusted; a hog is happy eating stool, and a fly is happy in filth. But a human being has the intelligence to question the validity of a life centered on eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. When one becomes disgusted with these temporary activities, they are actually advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Actually it is a fact and one who has become so disgusted with material life is actually advanced in Krsna Consciousness. This is first class propaganda and it will be a hammer-blow to the proponents of materialism and atheism.
- Animals have no ability to know that they are in darkness, but human beings can know. Like Devahuti, an intelligent person should become disgusted with the darkness of ignorance.
- One cannot be really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement.
Sour Grapes vs. Real Renunciation
There are two types of people who become disgusted: the frustrated materialist (impersonalist) and the devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares the impersonalist to the jackal in Aesop's fables who, failing to reach the grapes, declares them "sour." Because they have been burned by the material world, they want to make everything zero or void. This is an undeveloped stage. A devotee, however, does not want to commit spiritual suicide. They become disgusted with the "sour grapes" of material sense gratification because they have tasted the "sweet mangoes" of service to Kṛṣṇa.
- This (the jnanis are also trying to diminish the miseries, but they have become disgusted and so proclaim, "This world is false") is like the jackal who tries to pick some grapes from a vine, and when he fails, says - Oh, these grapes are sour anyway.
- This zero, void philosophy, when one becomes very much disgusted, they want to make it zero, finish everything. So this nirvisesa, or zero, is undeveloped stage.
Yamunācārya Standard
The most potent attachment in the material world is sex desire. Therefore, the most potent symptom of advancement is becoming disgusted with sex. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the example of the great saint Yamunācārya, who stated that since he began engaged in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa, whenever the thought of sex life came to his mind, he would spit at it in disgust. This vīta-rāga (freedom from attachment) is not artificial repression but a natural result of the higher taste of chanting the holy names.
- Yamunacarya said that "Not actually union with woman, but if I think of union," tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane, smaryamane, "simply by thinking," bhavati mukha-vikarah, "oh, immediately I becomes disgusted: 'Ah, what is this nasty thing?'"
- Another thing is that while chanting Hare Krsna mantra, if we are still attached to material attraction, that is also offense. The whole process is to become disgusted with material things. Vita-raga.
Impetus for Inquiry
Disgust is the fuel that propels one toward the spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as long as one is comfortable in the material world, they will not seriously inquire about the Absolute Truth. It is only when one becomes disgusted with the cheating, the suffering, and the futility of material existence that one surrenders to a guru. This was the case for King Aṅga, who left his kingdom in disgust, and it is the necessary step for anyone seeking liberation.
- One who has become disgusted with material existence needs the instructions of a guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam.
- Only when he comes in contact with the bona fide spiritual master can he understand his real constitutional position. He then becomes disgusted with material existence. At that time, he regrets his past experiences in material existence.
- Just like when you fly on the plane, after some hours, four, five hours, you become disgusted. You want to come down. Everyone has got this experience. Because the sky is zero, we cannot remain there more than four or five hours or six hours.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the feeling of disgust toward the material world is a mercy. It breaks the shackles of illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we should not fear this feeling or try to numb it with intoxication, as many frustrated youths do. Instead, we should channel this disgust into a positive determination to leave the "dark well" of material life and enter the clear light of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, where the soul finds its eternal satisfaction.
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 Becoming Disgusted. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.