Human culture

Expressions researched:
"human culture"

SB Canto 7

We have repeatedly stressed that human culture does not begin unless one takes to the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma.

SB 7.15.38-39, Purport:

We have repeatedly stressed that human culture does not begin unless one takes to the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma. Although gṛhastha life is a concession for the enjoyment of sex, one cannot enjoy sex without following the rules and regulations of householder life. Furthermore, as already instructed, a brahmacārī must live under the care of the guru: brahmacārī guru-kule vasan dānto guror hitam (SB 7.12.1). If a brahmacārī does not live under the care of the guru, if a vānaprastha engages in ordinary activities, or if a sannyāsī is greedy and eats meat, eggs and all kinds of nonsense for the satisfaction of his tongue, he is a cheater and should immediately be rejected as unimportant. Such persons should be shown compassion, and if one has sufficient strength one should teach them to stop them from following the wrong path in life. Otherwise one should reject them and pay them no attention.

Light of the Bhagavata

One must retire from all sorts of family life, big or small, at the age of fifty, and thus prepare for the next life. That is the process of human culture.

Light of the Bhagavata 34, Purport:

As already mentioned, the human life must be divided into four component parts: the student life, the householder life, the preparative life, and the life of dedication to the service of the Lord. One must retire from all sorts of family life, big or small, at the age of fifty, and thus prepare for the next life. That is the process of human culture. The householders are allowed a pension from service so that they can live for a higher cultural life. But foolish men, reluctant even to accept this pension, want to artificially increase the duration of their life. Such foolish men should take lessons from the drying pools of water and should know, in their own interests, that life is eternal, continuing even after death. Only the body changes, whether spiritually or materially. An intelligent man should be careful to know what sort of body is going to be awarded him, and thus he must prepare for a better life in other planets, even if he is reluctant to go back to Godhead.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

So our Vedic culture, Vedic culture means that human culture, not animal culture.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975:

So our Vedic culture, Vedic culture means that human culture, not animal culture. Animal culture means to satisfy the needs of the body, and Vedic culture or human culture means to satisfy the needs of the soul. That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā. One who is reading Bhagavad-gītā... In India practically everyone reads, but because one does not take the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā as it was instructed by Kṛṣṇa, he cannot take the benefit of Bhagavad-gītā's instruction. One tries to understand Bhagavad-gītā by erudite scholarship, or good position in the society, political, social, economical, but that is not the way to understand Bhagavad-gītā.

General Lectures

Human culture means to understand God, to understand Kṛṣṇa; that is human culture.

Rotary Club Lecture -- Hyderabad, November 29, 1972:

So this human birth, form of life, we have got after so many evolutions: aquatics, then trees, then plants, then insects, then birds, then beasts. Then we come to the platform of this human being, especially civilized human being. And especially born in India. For this reason, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that Indian people have got a special mission. He said, bhārata-bhūmite manuṣya-janma haila yāra (CC Adi 9.41). Anyone who is fortunate enough to get his birth in Bhārata-varṣa, janma sārthaka kari' kara paropakāra. Paropakāra. Indian, Indians are meant for doing welfare activities to others. Because in India you have got the culture which is actually human culture. Human culture means to understand God, to understand Kṛṣṇa; that is human culture. Otherwise, if you simply improve the four principles of animal life, that is not culture.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Victory for the Communists means the whole human culture is lost.

Morning Walk -- (World War III) -- April 4, 1975, Mayapur:

Nalinī-kānta: (break) ...Communists win, that will not stop our preaching?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Nalinī-kānta: They do not like to hear of God.

Rāmeṣvara: You wrote that if the Communists are victorious they would destroy whatever is left of the culture.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Victory for the Communists means the whole human culture is lost.

Ajāta-śatru: Does it mean that they will also attack the Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Prabhupāda: Yes, they have already begun. They are not passing our temple in Bombay.

Nalinī-kānta: If after the war the preaching will be still good, that means the Communists will not be victorious.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

They have already taken from me in advance the copy of my views on Human Culture and their second letter confirms it that they are very much anxious to receive me there.

Letter to Brijratanji -- Delhi 31 March, 1961:

I beg to inform you that an international congress for cultivating Human Spirit is going to be held in Japan in the month of May 1961 and you will be glad to know that the Japanese organizers have invited me to attend the congress. They have already taken from me in advance the copy of my views on Human Culture and their second letter confirms it that they are very much anxious to receive me there. From the copy of the enclosed certificate, you will find it that they have arranged for my boarding and lodging during the days of my stay there.

Now I request you to arrange for my passage to Japan and oblige. Last you were ready to bear my passage expenses from India to South America. And as I could not get the No objection certificate I had to postpone the journey. This time there is no such question and the passage expenses to Japan are far less than South America.

Kindly therefore do the needful immediately and give me a chance to speak to the enlightened people of the world the message of Human Culture from the Vedic literatures. I am sure such views will change the angle of vision of the world activities.