Primitive ages have passed long back. Today if we look around, we see how advanced we are and there are still ample opportunities for advancement. Modern science and technology have reached from micro to macro level of advancement.
Urbanization: Villages are converting to cities and cities are becoming ultra-modern. We are seeing rapid urbanization, mighty buildings and sky scrapers mushrooming all around us to fulfill the needs of higher life standards.
Biological: Millions of scientists and researchers are in the constant quest for developing remedies and medicines for viral, cancerous, hormonal and genetically critical diseases. They are engaging in more and more R&D in this never ending combat.
Space center: In the last century we had Aryabhata and Bhaskara and in this century we have Chandrayaan & Mangalyaan. Irrespective of failure or success, space scientists are continually striving day and night for another launch without proper sleep, food, personal care, etc., exploring navigation, communications, and planetary sciences.
Technological advancement: Millions of software is launched every single day across the world; automation technology is playing a major role in the industrial sector.
There always exists a race in the human society for advancement and it has never ending scope that keeps us on & on and we can proudly say, “We are advanced”.
Are we really advanced? Or still advancing? Even if we consider our advancement, then in which direction are we advancing?
It is very evident that despite all the advancement till date, nobody has claimed, “this is the ultimate advancement”. Crisis always exists, problems are emerging, and our requirements seem never ending. In the name of advancement, we are trying to overpower nature and its laws, which is a childish effort. Instead of living in harmony with nature we are trying to agitate it; we are declaring war against it. In course of so called advancement we have forgotten the power of nature. Earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, floods, etc., are hit backs of material nature, against which no material advancement is helpful.
We all have experienced seasonal changes – summer, rainy and winter which are inevitable. An intelligent man is one who prepares himself to face the seasonal changes, like in winter he wears warm clothes. But what are we doing? We are trying to stop a climatic change which is simply a waste of time.
Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita:
daivi hy esha guna-mayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.”
Krishna is claiming, “Nature is Mine, it is My divine energy and hence is under My control”. It is common sense to understand that energy is controlled by energetic, and it is meant to serve Him. Therefore it is clear that Krishna is energetic and nature is His subordinate energy.
Another meaning of “guna” is rope; it is to be understood that the conditioned soul is tightly tied by the ropes of illusion. A man bound by the hands and feet cannot free himself—he must be helped by a person who is not bound. The bound cannot help the bound, the rescuer must be liberated. Therefore, only Lord Krishna, or His bona fide representative, the spiritual master, can release the conditioned soul. Without such superior help, one cannot be freed from the bondage of material nature.
Srila Prabhupada says, “When one gets the bare necessities of life, namely peaceful home, sumptuous eating, necessary sex life, and feeling of security, then it is called material advancement”. This is easily available even in the animal society. It means our present situation is very pathetic.
He further says, “But human beings are making so called scientific, philosophical, cultural and religious advancements—progress in so many lines—because they want to be happy." Where is the point of happiness? "This reasoning power is especially given to the human being.”
Generally, people are just like animals. They simply do not know anything beyond the necessities of the body: how to eat, how to sleep, how to mate and how to defend. And the Bhagavad-gita says, out of many thousands, someone may develop this reasoning power: "Why am I suffering?" He asks this question: "Why am I suffering?" We do not want to suffer, but suffering is forced upon us. We do not want too much cold, but too much cold and too much heat are forced upon us.
Therefore, we should understand that how much ever we advance in science, we cannot excel material nature. Hence, we should take interest and endeavor towards our spiritual advancement, by approaching the bona fide Spiritual Master who has seen the truth. He can guide us to overcome the effect of strong material nature. This alone will result in “universal happiness” for mankind. Let us all strive towards our REAL ADVANCEMENT, which can save us from the greatest danger.
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