Either in religious scripture or by law books or by morality or ethical principle, they are taught to the human, civilized human society

Expressions researched:
"Either in religious scripture or by law books or by morality or ethical principle, they are taught to the human, civilized human society"

General Lectures

Just like the same example that one man is seeing practically that one who has committed something criminal, he is punished. And he has heard it also from authorities—from lawyers or from respectable gentlemen—that, "If you commit such-and-such sinful activities . . . if you steal, then you will be imprisoned for six months. If you cheat, you'll be imprisoned for such-and-such period. If you commit murder, then you'll be hanged." These things are taught some way or other. Either in religious scripture or by law books or by morality or ethical principle, they are taught to the human, civilized human society. And he sees also practically that "This man has committed this kind of criminality, and he is punished." And again why does he commit? That is the problem.

681026 - Lecture - Montreal

In the last meeting we were discussing why people are forced to commit sinful activities. This point is also discussed in the Bhagavad-gītā. Arjuna inquired from Kṛṣṇa, "What is that thing which forces a man to commit sinful activities?" (BG 3.36). Just like the same example that one man is seeing practically that one who has committed something criminal, he is punished. And he has heard it also from authorities—from lawyers or from respectable gentlemen—that, "If you commit such-and-such sinful activities . . . if you steal, then you will be imprisoned for six months. If you cheat, you'll be imprisoned for such-and-such period. If you commit murder, then you'll be hanged." These things are taught some way or other. Either in religious scripture or by law books or by morality or ethical principle, they are taught to the human, civilized human society. And he sees also practically that "This man has committed this kind of criminality, and he is punished." And again why does he commit? That is the problem.

So kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ (BG 3.37). Kāma and krodha. Kāma means desire, lust. Kāma. And when the desire lust is not fulfilled, then there is krodha. Krodha means anger. There are so many cases of criminality, when the lust is not fulfilled, one commits some criminal action and he is punished and so many things happen. So kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ.

As we have discussed many times that we are in this material world controlled by the three modes of material nature. Three qualities: goodness, passion and ignorance.

So goodness . . . yes, passion and ignorance is the . . . are the causes of our bondage. And goodness is also cause of bondage, but in that platform one can see things as they are, goodness, prakāśa. Just like at night we cannot see, but in daytime we see. But seeing is not all. Unless I am convinced of something, even seeing . . . just the same example: one man is seeing that a criminal person is punished; still he is committing criminal act.

So Śukadeva Gosvāmī's question is that suppose a man commits some sinful activities and he executes some atonement. In atone . . . this atonement is prescribed in every religion . . .