Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the
Fonder-Acarya of ISKCON, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, says:
"Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial
enterprises. The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of a godless civilization,
and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life. The more we go on
increasing such troublesome industries to squeeze out the vital energy of the human being,
the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the people in general, although a few
only can live lavishly by exploitation. The natural gifts such as grains and vegetables,
fruits, rivers, the hills of jewels and minerals, and the seas full of pearls are supplied
by the order of the Supreme, and as He desires, material nature produces them in abundance
or restricts them at times. The natural law is that the human being may take advantage of
these godly gifts by nature and satisfactorily flourish on them without being captivated
by the exploitative motive of lording it over material nature. The more we attempt to
exploit material nature according to our whims of enjoyment, the more we shall become
entrapped by the reaction of such exploitative attempts. If we have sufficient grains,
fruits, vegetables and herbs, then what is the necessity of running a slaughterhouse and
killing poor animals? A man need not kill an animal if he has sufficient grains and
vegetables to eat. The flow of river waters fertilizes the fields, and there is more than
what we need. Minerals are produced in the hills, and the jewels in the ocean. If the
human civilization has sufficient grains, minerals, jewels, water, milk, etc., then why
should it hanker after terrible industrial enterprises at the cost of the labor of some
unfortunate men? But all these natural gifts are dependent on the mercy of the Lord. What
we need, therefore, is to be obedient to the laws of the Lord and achieve the perfection
of human life by devotional service to Him. Let God's mercy be bestowed upon us so that
natural prosperity be maintained by His Grace..."
"You cannot violate the laws of God. As you cannot violate the laws of the state,
similarly, if you violate, you have to suffer. You cannot expect peace and you go on
killing animals. That is not possible. If you want peace, then you must think for others
also. That is God consciousness. How you can kill another animal? He is also as good a
child of God. A father has got some dozens of children. It may be one is useless, but that
does not mean father will allow it to be killed. If the more intelligent child says, 'My
dear father, you son is useless. Let me kill him.' How can the father sanction? Similarly,
the animal may be less intelligent. But because they cannot protest, they cannot rally
support, you think you can kill them. Is that humanity? And you expect peace? If you
violate God's law you have to suffer, today or tomorrow."
"...One cannot continue killing animals and at the same time be a religious man.
That is the greatest hypocrisy. Jesus Christ said, "Do not kill," but hypocrites
nevertheless maintain thousands of slaughterhouses while posing as Christians. Such
hypocrisy is condemned in this verse. One should be happy to see others happy, and one
should be unhappy to see others unhappy. This is the principle to be followed.
Unfortunately, at the present moment so-called philanthropists and humanitarians advocate
the happiness of humanity at the cost of the lives of poor animals..."
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