“Special Feature of the Modern Civilization”

Prabhupada, Honolulu, June 8, 1975: ..So we may declare very foolishly that we are independent. That is the foolishness of the modern civilization. They are not independent, nobody. Everyone is dependent. But because they are dependent and there are so many sufferings awaiting them for their so-called independent life, they do not believe in the next life. This is the, I mean to say, special feature of the modern civilization. They say, big, big professor, big, big leader, “No, there is no life after death. This is once we get and finished.” That is also another foolishness. Just like a child. A child, he knows that his body will be changed. Nobody will remain a baby. Nobody will remain a child. Nobody will remain a boy. Next life is awaiting. It is very simple philosophy.

And then after this body another body is waiting. That’s a fact. And not only fact. If you cannot understand it—there is no difficulty in understanding—but the authority says, Krsna says, tatha dehantara-praptih. As we are changing from this body to that body, this body to that body, this body to that body, every moment… According to medical science, every moment we are changing body. That’s a fact. But the changing is going so swiftly that we do not see how it is being changed. But if you come after some years… Just like we are seeing so many children, and if you come some years after, his father says, “This is the same child,” oh, you will be surprised, “Oh!” Because he has changed body. You will say, “Oh, you have become so big.” So it is a fact that we are changing body, and Krsna says this example, that as we are changing even in this life the body, similarly we shall have to change this body. The authority says, and we are practical example is there. Why we should not believe in the next life? Even a child can understand. But they are trying to avoid next life. That is their philosophy. If there are next life, and next life one is going to put into the hell and suffering is there, to dismiss this problem they do not believe in next life. This is the real fact. But actually this is the fact. If you live irresponsibly then you have to suffer. Full Lecture

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.6
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Honolulu, June 8, 1975