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Ideal human beings

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 6

The entire American nation has tried to advance in material opulence without striving to produce ideal human beings
SB 6.7.12, Purport: According to the laws of nature, when one is extremely opulent one becomes degraded, and this is true both individually and collectively. The demigods are situated in the mode of goodness, but sometimes even one who is situated in such an exalted position as King Indra, the king of all the demigods, falls down because of material opulence. We are now actually seeing this in America. The entire American nation has tried to advance in material opulence without striving to produce ideal human beings. The result is that Americans are now regretting the wholesale criminality of American society and are wondering how America has become so lawless and unmanageable. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.31), na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: persons who are unenlightened do not know the aim of life, which is to return home, back to Godhead.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Brāhmaṇa's duty is to present himself an ideal human being
Lecture on BG 2.32 -- London, September 2, 1973: Brāhmaṇa, a brāhmaṇa's duty is to present himself an ideal human being. Satyaṁ śamo damas titikṣā. Titikṣā means toleration. "Oh, it is very cold. No, I cannot take bath." No. You must tolerate. You must tolerate. Titikṣā. Ārjavam, simplicity; jñānam, full knowledge; vijñānam, practical application. Jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyam. Āstikyam means completely convinced of God and his relationship with God. That is called āstikyam. Or full faith in the statement of the Vedas. Whatever Veda says, that's right. Yes. No argument. That is called āstikyam. No argument.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

The first-class human being, ideal human being, is the brāhmaṇa
Lecture on SB 6.1.13-14 -- Los Angeles, June 26, 1975: So to fulfill the human life aim of human life, we have to become first-class human being. The first-class human being, ideal human being, is the brāhmaṇa. And the second class, the kṣatriya; the third class, vaiśya; and fourth class, śūdra. So at the present moment, Kali-yuga, kalau śūdrā-sambhavāḥ. In Kali-yuga there is no first class, second class, or even third class. All fourth-class men, śūdrā-sambhavāḥ. So therefore they are unable to perform all these tapasya or brahmacarya. Then what is their hope for progress?

Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Vedavyāsa: But he says we shouldn't construct an ideal human being, but we should accept our life as it is now
Room Conversation with Professor Durckheim German Spiritual Writer -- June 19, 1974, Germany:

Prabhupāda: Existence as human being, you want. So do you think human being is existing in this body is perfect? (German)

Dr. P. J. Saher: No, I don't say it is perfect. (German)

Vedavyāsa: So he says yes, he accepts our life now is not perfect, that we are conditioned. But he says we shouldn't construct an ideal human being, but we should accept our life as it is now.

Prabhupāda: No, no. The thing is that you are not perfect. Therefore the idea should be how to become perfect. (German)

Correspondence

1969 Correspondence

Our members of Krishna Consciousness society should be ideal human beings, and if they try to follow the principles, surely they will be the ideal men in the world
Letter to Advaita -- Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969: Your letter is very much encouraging, and it is worth exhibiting to all grhastha disciples, and not only to disciples, but to people in general who are simply interested in the matter of sense gratification. Our members of Krishna Consciousness society should be ideal human beings, and if they try to follow the principles, surely they will be the ideal men in the world.
Page Title:Ideal human beings
Compiler:Matea
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=1, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=2, Let=1, Con=1
No. of Quotes:5