The Beginning of Human Life - From Animal to Inquirer
Birth as a human being is a biological event, but the beginning of human life is a matter of consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly asserts that a person remains in the category of animals until they ask the fundamental questions of existence. The transition from animal life to human life occurs when one inquires, athāto brahma jijñāsā—"Now is the time to inquire about the Absolute Truth." Without this inquiry, the valuable human form is wasted in the pursuit of temporary sense gratification.
The Inquiry into Suffering
The defining characteristic of a human being is the ability to question their condition. Animals suffer, but they cannot ask why. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that human life truly begins when a person stops and asks, "Why am I suffering? Why am I forced to die? What is the solution?"
- 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.
- Human life begins when one is inquisitive to know, "Why I am suffering?" That is human life. And if he keeps himself in darkness - Oh, this is . . . Suffering is suffering. Let me enjoy.
- Everyone knows animal life is full of suffering, but they cannot realize. But a human being can realize. And when the question comes, when he becomes intelligent enough that "Why I am suffering?" then his human life begins.
Varṇāśrama: The Social Beginning
Civilized life is structured. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that the system of varṇāśrama-dharma—the division of society into four social classes (varṇas) and four spiritual orders (āśramas)—marks the beginning of human culture. Without these regulatory principles, society is simply a polished animal herd.
- Accept the varna and asramas: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha. This is called varnasrama system. But this is the beginning of human life.
- Unless one comes to this institutional progress of life, varna and asrama, they are animals. Human life begins from these eight divisions of occupational duties.
- 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.
"I Am Not This Body"
The first lesson in spiritual education is the distinction between the self and the body. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that as long as one identifies with the body, they are no better than a cat or a dog. Human life begins with the realization ahaṁ brahmāsmi—"I am spirit soul."
- Human life should be sober. He should... Therefore the first beginning of real life is to understand that "I am not this body." This is the first lesson. But where is that education? Throughout the whole world, go anywhere.
- This is very simple thing, that "I am simply changing body. Then what is my real position?" This is intelligent. When a man comes to this position or this platform, to inquire, "Actually what I am?" that is beginning of human life.
- No one is fully aware or convinced that the real person is not the body. This is called darkness, and when one is disgusted with this darkness, human life begins.
Training from Childhood
Ideally, this awakening should not wait for old age. Prahlāda Mahārāja instructs that spiritual education (bhāgavata-dharma) must begin from childhood. By training children as brahmacārīs, they can utilize the rare human form for its true purpose—self-realization—from the very start.
- He (Prahlada Maharaja) said that from the very beginning of life, from the age of five, children should be instructed about bhagavata-dharma because the human form of life, which is very rarely obtained, is meant for understanding this subject.
- From the very beginning of life the brahmacarya system is introduced so that from one's very childhood - from the age of five years - one can practice modifying one's human activities so as to engage perfectly in devotional service.
- One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life - in other words, from the tender age of childhood - to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements.
Conclusion
A human being is not defined by two legs or the ability to speak, but by the quality of inquiry. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that without the question "Who am I?" and the subsequent search for the Absolute Truth, a person lives and dies like an animal. Real human life is a life of responsibility, religion, and ultimately, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Beginning of 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.