Prabhupāda: People are in so ignorance, the so-called material civilization—simply in darkness. Very horrible civilization at the present moment, we think. Simply darkness. They do not know the laws of nature; they do not know what is living entity, what is soul, what is God, how things are going on, how nature's law is working. Nothing of the sort. Simply like animals—eat, drink, be merry and enjoy, that's all. This is going on, very horrible civilization at the present moment, and this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is the only movement to enlighten them to come to your senses; don't be carried away by the laws of material nature. Then Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings, therefore:
- keno māyār bośe, jāccho bhese'
- khāccho hābuḍubu, bhāi
- (Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Bol from Gītāvalī 1)
"Why you are going, being washed away by the waves of the nature's law?" Jāccho bhese'. Just like in big ocean or in big river, some straw is being carried away by the force of the waves, we are also being carried away by the force of the material laws.
- daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
- mama māyā duratyayā
- (BG 7.14)
So they should be very serious. That is human civilization. So if one is serious, then he has to practice these things. This is not possible to be practiced by the animals, but the human life. Therefore it is said, tapasā. Tapasā, I have explained the other day, that you have to voluntarily accept some inconveniences. That is That is not inconvenience. But because I am accustomed to such things, it appears to be inconvenient. Just like a smoker, he is veteran smoker, chain smoker. If he is asked that, "Stop this. This is not good" . . . practically every state is now trying to stop it. Every cigarette packet it is written . . . what is that written?
Devotee: "May be hazardous to your health."
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee: "It is hazardous to your health."
Prabhupāda: The advertisement is there, but they cannot be stopped; because they're so much intrinsically habituated, they cannot give it up.