Category:Going to the University
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda presents the university as a symbol of human choice and the pursuit of systematic knowledge, while simultaneously critiquing the limitations of modern secular education. He explains that just as a government provides both a university for education and a prison house for criminals, the Supreme Lord gives the living entity the independence to choose between spiritual elevation and material bondage. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the true purpose of an educational institution should be to understand the Absolute Truth, yet modern universities often focus on "scientific" sense gratification or mundane survival skills like eating and sleeping, which even animals perform without a degree. However, he also recognizes the university as a vital preaching ground. He encourages his followers to push the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in academic circles, challenging professors and students with the "doctorate level" of spiritual science found in the Bhagavad-gītā. By submissively hearing from an authorized ācārya, just as a student hears from a professor, one can transcend "dullness" and achieve the highest perfection of knowledge.
- The Choice of the Individual: Life is a matter of personal independence; one may choose to go to the university of spiritual knowledge or the prison house of material suffering.
- Redefining Education: Basic biological functions like eating and sleeping require no university degree; true education is that which leads to the understanding of God.
- A Scientific Preaching Mission: Devotees are encouraged to bring the scientific movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to every university to enlighten the intelligent class of men.
- The Role of the Ācārya: Just as one must hear from an experienced professor at a university, one must approach an authorized ācārya to make actual progress in spiritual life.
- Bypassing Intermediary Stages: While academic progress is linear, the grace of the Supreme Lord allows a sincere soul to bypass intermediary stages and reach the highest spiritual "doctorate."
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Push This Scientific Movement, Go to Every University.
Pages in category "Going to the University"
The following 26 pages are in this category, out of 26 total.
A
- Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. These four things, there is no need of university education. But at the present moment to go to university means how to gratify the senses very scientifically. Scientifically. How to steal scientifically
- Another important thing is acaryopasanam. If you want to make progress, then you have to approach acarya. Just like if you want to be educated, you go to school, you go to college, you go to university
G
- God has given you the ear. Utilize it properly. That's all. You don't require to go to the university and get a Ph.D. degree and then you can understand. No. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva - SB 10.14.3
- Government creates university also, or government creates prison house also. But it is your freedom. You make your choice: either you go to the university or you go to the prison house. It is your choice
- Government is equal to everyone, all citizens. But why somebody is going to the university to take his M.A. degree, and why one is going to the prison house to be imprisoned and suffering for so many years
I
- I (Prabhupada) was very glad to learn how our devotees are coming out victorious in the preaching to the university professors and students
- Is it government's fault that you go to the jail? Therefore government has fault? Why is this nonsense question? When a man, instead of going to the university, goes to the police custody, is it government's fault
- It is impossible to go directly to the university without prior schooling. In spiritual life, however, although there are strict regulations, by the Supreme Lord's grace one can bypass many intermediary stages and reach the top, or "doctorate" level
- It is not the government's partiality, that somebody go to the prison house and somebody will go to the university and occupy responsible position. No. It is our fault that we do not take opportunity or the facilities offered by the government or Krsna
- It is the government's duty to manage whether a man should be put into prison house, whether a man should go to the university. But the difference of individual activities
- It is the particular mentality - one is going to the university, one is going to the prison house. That is your individual independence. That is your choice
N
- Nobody can speak on the Bhagavad-gita so authoritatively as I can do. That is a fact. So if the university wants to take advantage of this opportunity, even in this old age I can go from one university to another
- Nobody has to go to university to learn how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life, how to defend. Nobody hasn't got to. It doesn't require education. It is already there. If you attack me, I shall immediately defend with my hand. You see? Natural