What were Srila Prabhupada's views on Technology?

Hare Krishna

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Dandavat Pranam to All Devotees!

I have been seeing a lot of 3D modeled, or animated work, sometimes AI generated pieces of Media depicting Krishna and his pastimes.

For example, The Little Krishna Series (which I loved, and still rewatch from time to time), or more recently, Mahavatar Narsimha, which was also a great film, so on.

I work in the creative field too, and want to direct my work towards Krishna, by basing my work on his Pastimes, and those of Devotees. But I am also lost in thought as to how to go about these - to do justice to these pastimes, a medium like animation is best, and at that too 3D animation would produce outstanding visuals-- but what troubles me is that the 3D models, and sets and everything exist inside a computer, which itself is a machine, and in no way can it cultivate Bhāva of any sort.

I wanted to know what His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's views on Technology were. Did he view computers and such things as simply machines? Or perhaps as Tools that can be used in Krishna's service...

Any insights would be greatly helpful!

Hare Krishna🙏

Hare Krishna,

"One should not give up anything which can be utilized in the service of the Lord. That is a secret of devotional service. Anything that can be utilized in advancing Krishna consciousness and devotional service should be accepted. For instance, we are using many machines for the advancement of our present Krishna consciousness movement, machines like typewriters, dictaphones, tape recorders, microphones and airplanes. Sometimes people ask us, 'Why are you utilizing material products if you condemn the advancement of material civilization?' But actually we do not condemn. We simply ask people to do whatever they are doing in Krishna consciousness. This is the same principle on which, in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna advised Arjuna to utilize his fighting abilities in devotional service. Similarly, we are utilizing these machines for Krishna’s service. With such sentiment for Krishna, or Krishna consciousness, we can accept everything. If the typewriter can be utilized for advancing our Krishna consciousness movement, we must accept it. Similarly, the dictaphone or any other machine must be used. Our vision is that Krishna is everything. Krishna is the cause and effect, and nothing belongs to us. Krishna’s things must be used in the service of Krishna. That is our vision."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 14)

Replies

Gayatri May 6, 2026 at 10:54am

Hare Krishna,

"One should not give up anything which can be utilized in the service of the Lord. That is a secret of devotional service. Anything that can be utilized in advancing Krishna consciousness and devotional service should be accepted. For instance, we are using many machines for the advancement of our present Krishna consciousness movement, machines like typewriters, dictaphones, tape recorders, microphones and airplanes. Sometimes people ask us, 'Why are you utilizing material products if you condemn the advancement of material civilization?' But actually we do not condemn. We simply ask people to do whatever they are doing in Krishna consciousness. This is the same principle on which, in the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna advised Arjuna to utilize his fighting abilities in devotional service. Similarly, we are utilizing these machines for Krishna’s service. With such sentiment for Krishna, or Krishna consciousness, we can accept everything. If the typewriter can be utilized for advancing our Krishna consciousness movement, we must accept it. Similarly, the dictaphone or any other machine must be used. Our vision is that Krishna is everything. Krishna is the cause and effect, and nothing belongs to us. Krishna’s things must be used in the service of Krishna. That is our vision."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 14)
- Gayatri > Gayatri May 6, 2026 at 10:55am
Sevak

Bharat May 5, 2026 at 2:44pm

Hare Krsna

3.5 min clip that answers your question

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzleVM6ayLI

Hare Krsna

This reply was deleted.