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On his morning walk at City Beach, Prabhupada spoke more about the flaws of modern civilisation. Paramahamsa described a news article he had read describing how New York City was bankrupt and had practically given up the fight against noise, pollution and crime.

"Because it is conducted by fourth-class men," Prabhupada warned, "the whole civilisation will collapse. There is no social structure, no spiritual understanding and no good character."

A municipal bus, with only one or two passengers on board drove past. Prabhupada had witnessed the same empty bus on his last few walks on the beach. This was an example of wastage, he said. He recalled a flight from Nairobi to London where the only passengers had been his own party of five.

"Such a big plane, consuming so much petrol, and vacant for passengers. Many times we had that experience -- such an artificial way of life."

Technological advancement, Prabhupada pointed out, was not real civilisation. "They do not know what is advancement. They had no knowledge that: 'I have to die, and I have to accept another body after death.' They do not know it. So long as this body is there, they are trying to have a very comfortable position. But they do not know that after this body, they have to accept another body. So how will this technology help them? If, in this life, by technological advancement they live very comfortably, and next life they become a dog, then where is the advancement? That they do not know."

Prabhupada gave the example of the three-week visa they had obtained to come to Australia. "Suppose in Perth I begin one skyscraper knowing that I shall remain here for only three weeks. Is this intelligence? Similarly, at any moment I can be kicked out."

Prabhupada cited an English proverb. "There are many dangers between the cup and the lip. You are going to drink tea. The distance is " Prabhupada demonstrated the distance by holding an imaginary cup -- "Here is cup and here is lip -- there may be many dangers. So suppose in drinking tea there is some choking within the throat and coughing, you may die immediately. This is our position."

As the walk proceeded, Prabhupada pointed out that all the vacant land around him was another graphic example of the technologically advanced society's misuse of resources.

"We can produce so much food grains if it is utilised -- fruits, flowers, vegetables and grains. This land is very good for producing potatoes and watermelon. But who is doing that? Watermelon is such a nice thing; and potato, you boil potato and take watermelon, you have full nourishment. Very innocent and simple food. But this land is vacant."

Later, Prabhupada summed up. "Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. Sunyayitam means zero. The advancement of modern civilisation is zero, but if you add many thousands of zeros, does the value increase? No, it simply remains zero. But if you add a "one" it will increase the value. That "one" is Krsna consciousness. That will make this material civilisation important -- a hundred, a thousand times more important."


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu