A comparison of modern technological advancement with the ancient Vedic perspective of civilization centered on spiritual progress.
Spirit Soul vs Material Body
The common understanding of an advanced civilization today is technological progress, comforts, and sensory enjoyment. Countries like the US and Great Britain are considered advanced by this yardstick. However, the ancient Vedic scriptures of India present a different perspective.
The Bhagavad-gita (2.13) explains that the living entity is not the material body, but the eternal spirit soul within:
"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change."
The Bhagavad-gita (2.13) explains that the living entity is not the material body, but the eternal spirit soul within:
dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāraμ yauvanaμ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati
"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change."
The Cage and the Bird
From the Vedic point of view, civilization is centered on the advancement of the spirit soul. Spending all our time on material comforts is considered less intelligent. If the bird in the cage is not fed and only the cage is taken care of, the bird will die.
Similarly, we are trying to become happy by improving our outer dress (the body) while neglecting the soul. True knowledge is defined in the Bhagavad-gita (13.8–12) as humility, simplicity, tolerance, approaching a spiritual master, and philosophically searching for the Absolute Truth.
Similarly, we are trying to become happy by improving our outer dress (the body) while neglecting the soul. True knowledge is defined in the Bhagavad-gita (13.8–12) as humility, simplicity, tolerance, approaching a spiritual master, and philosophically searching for the Absolute Truth.
Spiritual Education as the Solution
Rather than a more advanced computer system, the need of the hour is a process to educate people about their spiritual identity. The best method recommended for this age of Kali is chanting the holy names of God:
"My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." ~ Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.51
By Chirag Dangarwala
kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇah
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
"My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." ~ Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.51
By Chirag Dangarwala