Category:Becoming an Animal
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda presents a stark and urgent choice facing every human being: at the end of this life, one will either elevate to a divine consciousness or degrade into a lower species. The analysis of these quotes centers on the law of karma and the principle that one's future body is determined by one's present state of mind. Śrīla Prabhupāda critiques modern civilization for training humans to live like animals—focused solely on eating, sleeping, mating, and defending—thereby preparing them to actually become animals, such as dogs or hogs, in their next birth. However, he also offers a transcendent alternative: voluntarily becoming the "dog" of a Vaiṣṇava, signifying a state of perfect surrender and protection under a divine master.
- The Law of Transmigration: The quotes emphasize that nature is impartial; if a human behaves like a dog or becomes attached to a dog (as in the West), they are forced by the laws of nature to accept a dog's body in the next life.
- The Failure of Modern Education: Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently recounts conversations with university students who cynically accept the possibility of becoming a dog, illustrating a complete lack of spiritual knowledge.
- The Danger of Attachment: The story of Bharata Mahārāja serves as the ultimate warning: even an advanced spiritualist can slip down to the animal species if their mind is absorbed in an animal at the moment of death.
- The Spiritual "Dog": A profound twist in the philosophy is the aspiration to become the "dog" of Kṛṣṇa or a pure devotee. Unlike the degradation of becoming a material dog, this position represents the highest liberation and safety.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Choice Between Becoming a God or an Animal Like Dog.
Pages in category "Becoming an Animal"
The following 153 pages are in this category, out of 153 total.
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A
- A ass is trying to become a pig. What is that civilization? So ideal is to become a pig, and for that, fulfillment of that idea, they are working like ass. Is it not? Just see. Think over
- A civilization which guides the citizens to become animals in their next lives is certainly not a human civilization
- A civilization which guides the citizens to become animals in their next lives is certainly not a human civilization. BG 1972 purports
- A juggler or magician displays many wonders with his acts and arts. He can become a cow by his magical tactics, and yet he is not that cow; but at the same time, the cow displayed by the magician is not different from him
- A learned person's vision enables him to see them all equally. How is this? He does not see the body but the soul, the spiritual spark (Brahman). He thinks: Here is a dog, but it is also a living entity, although by his past karma he has become a dog
- A mouse was very much harassed by a cat, and therefore the mouse approached a saintly person to request to become a cat
- A similar thing (to the Again become a Mouse story) is going on all over the universe. One is going up and down, sometimes becoming a mouse, sometimes a tiger, and so on
- A vivid example is Bharata Maharaja. Although in his next life he became a deer, in the life after that he became completely free from all material contamination and was elevated to the kingdom of God
- After many, many births, we have got this human form of life. If we simply waste like cats and dogs, then again we become cats and dogs or tree or anything. There are so many species of life. That will be great mistake, great loss
- Agastya Muni cursed Maharaja Indradyumna to become an elephant (Gajendra), the curse was indirectly a benediction, for by undergoing one life as an elephant, Indradyumna Maharaja ended the reactions for all the sins of his previous life
- Agastya Muni thought it wise to curse the King (Indradyumna) to become an elephant (Gajendra) because the powerful King did not receive Agastya Muni as one is obliged to receive a brahmana
- All of this (enjoyment of the five sense objects) is also very pleasing to the animals; therefore in human society there are restrictions in the enjoyment of the five sense objects. If one does not follow, he becomes exactly like an animal
- As soon as one become bereft of religion, he's animal. That's all. That is the difference between animals and man. They think to become polished animal is advancement of civilization
- At one time, Indra, the king of heaven, committed an offense at the feet of his spiritual master, and his spiritual master cursed him to take the birth of a hog. Thus the throne of the heavenly kingdom became empty as Indra went to earth to become a hog
- At the present moment, human beings have become exactly like animals. They do not know the meaning of apavarga, liberation. Yet there was a time when people understood that human life was meant for apavarga
- At the time of death the mental condition will give you another body. There is proof also, just like Maharaja Bharata. He was advancing in spiritual life - he left his kingdom - but at the time of death he was thinking of a deer, so he became a deer
B
- Because their life has been so modeled, it is no better than animal life. So they do not see any difference between animal life and human life. Therefore to become animal or human being, they do not mind. This is the position
- Because they have been taught like that (to watch television). What is their fault? They do not know the importance of human life. "Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy." That's all. And then become a dog. That's all
- Being a most fallen soul, I was victimized by the illusory energy and have become like a dancing dog led around by a woman's hand. Now I shall give up all lusty desires and free myself from this illusion
- Bodily occupational duty changes, because as soon as the body is changed... I am now human being, and next time, if I become some animal, so my occupational duty changes. Or if I become demigod, my occupational duty changes
- But when he became a tiger, he stared at the saintly person, and when the saintly person asked him, "What do you want?" the tiger said, "I want to eat you." Then the saintly person cursed him, saying, "May you again become a mouse."
C
- Caitanya said, bharata bhumite haila manusya-janma yara (Cc. Adi 9.41) - "to the human beings," not to the cats and dogs. Unfortunately, we have become like cats and dogs. We do not take the responsibility of an Indian. It is the duty of the Indian
- Cheating means outwardly very devotional, inwardly doing all sinful activities. Such living entity is given the chance to become a hog and dog in Vrndavana so that the reaction of the sinful activities, they get this body
E
- Even university students, they say, "If next life, if I become animal, what is the wrong?" Just see, how much degraded
- Every devotee should practice in order to chant some mantra perfectly so that even though he may be imperfect in spiritual consciousness in this life, in his next life he will not forget Krsna consciousness, even if he becomes an animal
- Everybody will be thrown in the laws of nature according to his karma. Now I am father, he is son, but after death my son may become demigod, I may become a dog. And here I may keep the photo of my father, and father may be rotting somewhere as a dog
H
- He (a learned person) thinks: Here is a dog, but it is also a living entity, although by his past karma he has become a dog. And this learned scholar is also a living spark, but he has taken good birth because of his past karma
- He (Angirasa) could travel in space, and therefore he could present himself even in the planets of Brahmaloka and Indraloka. He advised the King of heaven, Indra, about conquering the demons. Once he cursed Indra, who thus had to become a hog on the earth
- He (Krsna) says, - You are rotting here by repeatedly committing sins. You are changing from one body to another, and you are thinking that you are a human being, an American, this or that. The next moment you may become a dog or an insect
- He cursed Indra, who thus had to become a hog on the earth and was unwilling to return to heaven. Such is the power of the attraction of the illusory energy. Even a hog does not wish to part with its earthly possessions in exchange for a heavenly kingdom
- Hiranyakasipu was very much afraid of Visnu's becoming an animal to kill him because his brother had been killed by Visnu when the Lord took the shape of a boar. He was therefore very careful to guard against all kinds of animals
- Human being, after the evolution, eight million forms of body, he comes to human body to understand philosophy, these Vedas. So instead of utilizing life for that purpose, he wants to become again like the cats and dog, and therefore he takes drugs
- Human life has got a great responsibility. If you become like cats and dog, the hippies, then utsanna, everything is destroyed
- Human life is meant not for becoming a hog or dog, but for tapo divyam (SB 5.5.1), transcendental austerity. Everyone should be taught to undergo austerity, tapasya
I
- I am a servant of Krsna. That is very nice. So one become... One has got the tendency to become proud. So if one is proud to become a cats and dog or a tiger or a so-called big man of this material world, that is for his bondage
- I can become a demigod, I can become a cat, I can become a dog, I can become Brahma - there are so many forms of life. In the next life I shall have to accept one of these forms, even if I do not want to
- I can request you that you accept this principle (KC) and be liberated from these sufferings of material life, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi (BG 13.9). But we have become careless. - Never mind I shall again take my birth, again die, I shall become dog
- I had correspondence with one gentleman in England. He says that "We want to be tiger." So I answered "What is the use of tiger?" Tigers, to become tiger... Tiger is very important animal? It is, rather, enemy of the human society
- I love you. Therefore you'll die and you'll become a dog, so I am taking sympathy on you that "Don't become a dog"
- If he becomes like cats and dogs, then he cannot attain this daivi sampat. If there is rules and regulation, restriction following, then gradually he will come to the platform of daivi sampat
- If he fails to find out a good master, then he's street dog. Dog's life is good, provided he gets a good master. So therefore we have decided to become dog of Krsna, the best master
- If he gets a superior body, then that is also an entanglement, even if he goes to the heavenly planets. But if he becomes a cat or dog, then his life is lost. Or a tree - there is every chance of it
- If he is in the association of passion, he is materially busy. And if he associates with the quality of ignorance, he becomes animals or animals-like man
- If I again become victimized . . . the laws of nature is there. If you want, you can enjoy. Nature will give you: "All right, you want so much sex. All right, come on, become a hog. Yes." So nature is ready. It is not very difficult
- If I want to love a dog and become a dog in my next life, instead of loving God and becoming like God in the next life, that is my choice. The prison and university are open to everyone, and by making our choice, we can make our future destiny
- If one associates with the qualities of the hogs, one will actually become a hog in one's next birth. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. Nature will give one a full opportunity: "All right, sir, become a hog." Such are nature's arrangements
- If one goes to Mathura-mandala-bhumi for sense gratification or to make a livelihood, he commits an offense and is condemned. Whoever does so must be penalized in the next life by becoming a hog or a monkey in Vrndavana-dhama
- If one has maintained a dog mentality, then he'll get a dog's body. All this property he made in this life goes to hell. He becomes a dog if he has maintained a dog mentality. And if he has maintained a god's mentality, then he becomes a god also
- If people become irreligious in the name of secularism, then they are simply animals. So it is the government duty to see that the citizens are not becoming animals. He may profess a type of religion. That doesn't matter. But he must be religious
- If we acquire the qualities of a brahmana and work as a brahmana, we become a brahmana. If we act as a dog and do the work of a dog, we become a dog. Nor should one think that simply because one is born as a brahmana, one is automatically a brahmana
- If we read life of Krsna, we can see that He's Krsna, God, from the very beginning of His birth. God is not manufactured by some mystic power. God is God, and dog is dog. A dog cannot become God; God cannot become dog. That is difference
- If you associate with the tamo-guna, then you become lower-class man, animals. That is your fault. It is not Krsna's fault
- If you chant sincerely, even for a moment, it will have great effect. It will save you from the greatest danger - becoming an animal in your next life
- If you eat meat, that means you become implicated in sinful activities. You have to be killed by your enemy, and he will eat you, or enemy . . . or you become a goat or a hog or a cow, and your other person will kill you
- If you live without God consciousness, then immediately you become to the status of animals
- In the science of logic it is said, "Man is a rational animal." So when rationality is missing, one becomes simply an animal. What is the possibility of being a human being
- In the universities they say that "What is the wrong if I become an animal?'' I asked them, "Do you like to be animal?'' "Yes.'' "Then all right, next time you become animal. (laughter) This is your I give you this blessing. That's all''
- In the Vedas also it is stated that such persons (demons) gradually sink to become dogs and hogs. BG 1972 purports
- Indeed, it seems that the more "educated" one becomes, the less he believes in God, in God's law, in the next life and in sinful and pious activities. Thus modern education is simply preparing men to become animals
- It is not God's desire that a human being become a pig, but he develops such mentality to eat everything. So God allows him to do everything, to eat everything up to stool in the body of a pig. That is God's concession
- It is said that once Indra, the King of heaven, was cursed by his spiritual master, Brhaspati, on account of his misbehavior, and he became a hog on this planet
- It is said the Lord is situated in everyone's heart, so that means Krishna is also in the heart of a hog, and he is also in the heart of a demigod, but that does not mean that God has become a hog, or a demigod, God is always in Vaikuntha
- It is the duty of the human society to save the human being to degrade, from becoming again cats and dogs, or to elevate him higher and higher
J
- Just like cats and dogs lie down on the street, I'll lie down - They are thinking this is ideal. So just see that so much expenditure on education, university, father, mother's care, still care, but they are becoming cats and dogs
- Just see in the Western countries; all the younger generation, they are so much addicted to intoxication. And the government is spending millions of dollars, how to stop it. But they have become animals
K
- Kali-yuga is considered to be the most fallen age. We are thinking that we are making very much advance, but it is the most fallen age, because people are becoming like animals
- Krsna always tends the cows. His name is cowherd boy. To become animal of Krsna is a great, great fortune. It is not ordinary thing
- Krsna consciousness movement is to rescue these rascals from ignorance and give Krsna consciousness. Most philanthropic work. They will become dog next life. We are trying to save them, "Don't become dog. Just become god, or godly." This is our movement
- Krsna consciousness movement is trying to save them from going back to become cats and dogs. Instead of going back there, they are trying to send him back to God. That is Krsna consciousness movement
- Krsna is so kind that if we want to become tigers, He will give us a tiger body. If we want to become devotees, He will give us the body of a devotee
- Krsna says, "You come to Me. You'll be happy. I shall give you all protection." No, Sir, I am not going. I shall become a hog, and I shall eat stool. That, that is my advancement of material civilization
- Krsna will give you chance: "All right, if you have got still desire for material enjoyment, do it." "I want to become a king." "All right, become a king." Then "I want to become a dog." "All right, become a dog." He gives you both opportunity
N
- Now they are coming to the dog's life. A dog, just like street, they have sex life. "This is advancement, that we have become now pure dog. So long it was hidden, now we are open." This is the civilization, animal civilization
- Now we are very much enthusiastic to become good nationals. Suppose I am American, a very good national. Now, after death, suppose that if I become a cow. Then even I am national of this country, oh, I am destined to be sent to the slaughterhouse
O
- One may kill an animal to enjoy eating it, but he will be bound by such an action. Thus in one's next life he will become a cow or a goat, and the cow or goat will become a man and eat him
- One must become qualified. If one qualifies himself, one may become a devata, a demigod like Indra or Candra, or one can become a dog or a cat. That depends on one's karma, or activities (karmana daiva-netrena) - SB 3.31.1
- One must learn how to control. Controlling the senses, this is civilization. To become cats and dogs, that is not civilization. Dog civilization, cat civilization, hog civilization, camel civilization, this is going on
- One who is in the bodily conception of life is compared in the sastras to animals like cows and asses. Diti wanted to punish Indra, who had become like a lower animal
- Our endeavor is just to become a dog of a Vaisnava, not to become an animal like lion. We remain a dog, but of a Vaisnava. And we refuse to become a big animal like lion. This is our philosophy
P
- People all over the world are madly engaging in sense gratification and in this way spoiling their human lives, with the risk that in the next life they may become animals or less. Human society should be saved from such a risky civilization
- People are so attracted to this material body that they are prepared to become cats and dogs next life, but they are not prepared to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is the problem
- People have no conception of God, and therefore there is no understanding of religion. As a result, the whole human civilization is declining. And because it is declining, human beings are becoming more and more like animals
- People held in the grip of maya are thrown into oblivion after death, and as a result of their karma, in the next life they become dogs or gods, although most of them become dogs
- People not afraid of becoming animals. I have asked so many people that, "Suppose if you become animal in the next life?" He says - What is the harm?
- Persons who rebel against the Vedic principles are themselves the evidence that the Vedas are authoritative, because by not following the Vedic principles they become like animals
S
- Seeing the situation (empty throne of heavenly kingdom), Brahma came to earth and addressed the hog - My dear sir, you have become a hog on this planet earth. I have come to deliver you. Come with me at once
- So if you do not become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu, Vaisnava, or guru, there is no question of happiness
- So intelligent men and women should take interest in this great movement. It is a very scientific spiritual movement. People are suffering for lack of spiritual knowledge. They have become materially like animals. Materialism means animalism
- So Krsna will give you opportunity to remain naked, become animals, trees, like that. So that is not our aim of life. Our aim of life, the human form of life, is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth
- So to become the friend and the devotee of Krishna, that is required. Just become the pet dog, that is surrender
- So-called comfortable life for few years, and then becoming a dog and hog, a tree? It is possibility
- Sometimes if people hear that by acting in such a way they will become a tree, a dog, a cat, an insect or even a human being, they say that they do not even care to know this
- Sometimes they say, "Never mind if I become a dog. What's wrong with that? I will simply forget everything." Many university students in the Western countries speak this way. They have become so ignorant that they are described as manda
- Sometimes they say: "Never mind if I become a dog. What is the wrong there? I will forget everything." People say, in Western countries, even the university student, they say they don't . . . so ignorance
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has recommended: vaisnava thakura tomara kukkura bhuliya janaha more, krsna se tomara krsna dite para. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung: vaisnava thakura tomara kukura baliya janaha more. In this way Bhaktivinoda Thakura offers to become a Vaisnava's dog
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has therefore sung, tumi ta’ thakura, tomara kukkura, baliya janaha more (Saranagati 19). He thus offers to become the dog of a Vaisnava
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings, tumi ta' thakura, tomara kukura, baliya janaha more: "O my Lord, O Vaisnava, please consider me your dog." One must become the dog of a Vaisnava, a pure devotee, for a pure devotee can deliver Krsna without difficulty
- Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura said, My Dear Vaisnava Thakura, Spiritual Master, let me become your dog, and I shall remain at your door, and I shall guard against any nonsense persons trying to enter
- Suppose I am now human being, and I change my dress to become a demigod, or I change my dress to become a dog. It does not mean that I am finished. I have simply changed my dress, according to my karma
- Suppose this life I am human being; next life I may not be human being. This statement was not liked by the newspaper man. He was told that next life you can become animal, so he has published in my name, - The svami can become animal
T
- That is spiritual platform. This is the way. So if you stick to the tamo-guna principle, then there is no hope of spiritual realization. There is only hope of becoming hogs and dogs and like that. Their life is finished
- That is the practice. You should simply come to the thinking of Krsna. That is perfection. And if you become embarrassed with so many things, then there is risk of becoming a cat, dog, deer, or demigod, anything
- That singing, Hare Krsna singing, nuisance, they say. You see. How degraded human being has become: "Hare Krsna singing is nuisance. And cinema singing is very good." Just see. They have become simply rascals, dogs and hogs
- The king offered that "Instead of this cow you take ten cows from me. You settle up." No, he would not do that. In this way there was some misunderstanding, and the brahmana cursed him, as a result of which he had to become a lizard
- The living entity's position is herein (SB 4.29.30-31) likened to a dog's. By chance a dog may have a very rich owner, and by chance he may become a street dog. As the dog of a rich man, he will live very opulently
- The living entity, he is part and parcel of God, but someone has become human beings, some has become cats, someone has become tree, some as insects, some as demigods - varieties. Because they wanted to become like that, and God has given him the chance
- The Lord confirms this benediction (to become cats, hogs and dogs and enjoy material happiness) in Bhagavad-gita: Whatever a person aspires to receive from Me, I offer him as he desires
- The Lord is so kind, however, that even today persons whose brain substance is spoiled are given the benediction to become cats, dogs or hogs and enjoy material happiness from sex life and sense gratification
- The Mayavadis misuse the word and say that even if the living entity has become a stool-eating hog, he is also enjoying his pastimes
- The more the age of Kali-yuga will increase, these things (human becoming animals) will also increase more and more, more and more. Later on, you won't get foodstuff. You will be obliged to kill some animal and eat
- The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals. They have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees
- The so-called svami, they will become animal. So that is not wrong. But we devotee, we are not afraid of becoming animal. Our only ambition is that we become Krsna conscious
- The world is degrading to the lowest status, even less than animal. The animal also do not support homosex. They have never sex life between male to male. Less than animal. People are becoming less than animal. This is all due to godlessness
- These four things are available, either you become a dog or a god. Not God; these demigods. In the material world, everyone is given the facilities for eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse and defense
- They (conditioned souls) can risk their lives to become a dog or hog just after leaving the present body, for they have completely lost sight of the ultimate aim of life
- They don't mind even if they become a dog next life. Is it not? This is Western civilization. They say plainly, "What is wrong? I'll forget." Such degradation has taken place in the human society
- They want freedom. In the freedom, in the name of freedom, they are becoming animals. That's all. This is the civilization. But here it is said, kovida, intelligent. Intelligent man should take up this sword to cut the knot of our attachment
- This another rascal came, that "I am God." If you are God, so why you have become dog? They say it is lila
- This hoggish civilization is real civilization. To become like hog, that is real civilization. And to give up this process, thinking of soul, elevation of the soul, going back to Godhead - simply imagination, brainwashing
- This is the secret of Krsna consciousness, that to become Krsna conscious, to become dog of Krsna, servant of Krsna
- This is the university education, that one is not afraid of becoming a dog. He thinks that "This is also very good." So where is the humanity? Where is the human civilization?
- This modern civilization, it is insane, crazy civilization. There is a little pleasure in sex life - simply sex life, increase sex life, spoiling everything. That is crazy. Eating - eat anything, any nonsense thing, and become a hog
- This reason (the destiny) also applies to the transmigration of the soul, by which a prime minister in one life may become a dog in the next
- Those who are very abominable, sinful, they go down planetary system or become lower than human being - animals, trees, birds, beasts, like that
- Those who have become the dogs of lust are said to have lost all good sense: kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah - BG. 7.20
- To become gods in the next life, they must engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; otherwise, they are sure to become dogs or hogs in terms of the laws of nature
- To cover the lower part of the body is a principle of human civilization, and when men or women forget this principle, they become no better than animals
- To go to the forest does not mean to become a monkey or a ferocious animal
- To liken the conditional existence of the living entity to that of a dog is very appropriate. An intelligent human being, however, can understand that if he has to live the life of a dog, he had best become Krsna's dog
- Today I am a human being, but tomorrow I may become a dog, and then whatever activities I have performed in this life will be a failure. This simple truth is now rarely understood, but one who is a dhira can understand this
U
W
- We are trying to save them, "Don't become dog. Just become god or godly." This is our movement. But they are persistent to become dog. Even they are coming here, again falling. Persistent to become dog. So that is nature's law, what can be done?
- When a man becomes qualitatively like the cats and dogs, he forgets his duties in cultivating spiritual values, and thus he accepts his wife as a sense gratificatory agency
- When an ant sees danger, he will run like anything. This is because he values his body and does not want to lose it. Once Lord Indra, the King of the heavenly planets, was cursed by Brhaspati to become a hog
- When human beings are becoming uninterested in religion, then they're becoming animals
- When I give up this body, my mentality causes me to become a cat, a dog, or a mouse, what is the benefit of this comfortable position? But people do not consider this
- When King Bharata made a mistake and in his next life became a deer, his devotional service did not stop, although some slight chastisement was given to him because of his negligence
- When Narayana is living in the heart of a hog, He does not become a hog-Narayana. He is always Narayana and is unaffected by the body of the hog
- Whoever is expert in illegally amassing huge fortunes becomes the top dog
- Why I shall become hogs and dogs and again I shall put myself in the cycle of birth and death? I have got this life after so many evolutionary process. Why not practice little tapasya in this life? This is knowledge
Y
- You have got this opportunity of understanding your position and get out of the difficulties of birth, death, old age and disease. If you do not properly use this opportunity and again you become cats and dogs, then are you not misled?
- You have seen the picture of Krsna? Yes. So better we shall become animal of Krsna. So there is nothing wrong. Even if we become an animal of Krsna, that is also very worthy. That is not ordinary thing. Krsna is embracing
- You have to become a dog of a Vaisnava. And Narottama dasa Thakura says that without serving the Vaisnava, nobody can get out of the clutches of maya. That is not possible
- You may be very big prime minister or anything, but as soon as maya will dictate, "Please vacate your post and go away," you become a dog. You have to become. How you can challenge prakrti? That is not possible
- You may follow capitalism or Communism or this "ism," that "ism"; after death, you'll be immediately under the grip of material nature, karmana daiva-netrena (SB 3.31.1) - Now all your so-called rascal nationalism go to hell. You become a dog. Finish
- Youth of your country they are seeking to find the point of real life which has been lost, but they are thinking that to become animals will give them new life, just like standing naked or growing long hairs. But without Krishna that is not possible