Tirtha in Prison Fear and Loathing in Technoland

In examining the world's present tenuous situation it is undeniable that the fear quotient may be at it highest peak since the early 1960s. Techno-terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, nuclear proliferation... where will it all end?

Within our own experience we have witnessed that the advancement of technology has not brought the much anticipated peace and prosperity that people so desperately seek, but instead, a marked increase of fear and subjugation for the greater mass of people. Embracing material advancement as his supreme cause, modern man has unwittingly placed himself at the crossroads of greater enslavement and certain destruction.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10-1-17, Srila Prabhupada comments, "...When the residents of this earth become atheistic and godless, they descend to the status of animals like dogs and hogs, and thus their only business is to bark among themselves. This is dharmasya glani, deviation from the goal of life. Human life is meant for attaining the highest perfection of Krsna consciousness, but when people are godless and the presidents or kings are unnecessarily puffed up with military power, their business is to fight and increase the military strength of their different states. Nowadays, therefore, it appears that every state is busy manufacturing atomic weapons for a third world war. Such preparations are certainly unnecessary; they reflect the false pride of the heads of state. The real business of a chief executive is to see to the happiness of the mass of people by training them in Krsna consciousness in different divisions of life. A leader should train the people as brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras and engage them in various occupational duties, thus helping them progress toward Krsna consciousness. Instead, however, rogues and thieves in the guise of protectors arrange for a voting system, and in the name of democracy they come to power by hook or crook and exploit the citizens. Even long, long ago, .asuras, persons devoid of God consciousness, became heads of state, and novi this is happening again. The various states of the world are preoccupied with arranging for military strength. Sometimes they spend sixty-five percent of the government's revenue for this purpose. But why should people's hard-earned money be spent in this way? Because of the present world situation, Krsna has descended in the form of the Ersna consciousness movement. This is quite natural, for without the Krsna consciousness movement the world cannot be peaceful and happy."

Seen as the key in man's quest for an ever increasing luxurious lifestyle, technology is touted as having unlimited potential in a myriad of applications. However, in the hands of godless men it has produced at best, questionable, mixed results .

While certain technologies are often praised for bringing greater personal freedom into people's lives, such technologies often have a darker, parallel side.

Watching for terrorists and other "suspicious" types, cameras abound in many of the world's major cities. Fearing attacks from an elusive enemy whose face remains a mystery, people have been coached to be suspicious of one another. Always promoting the consciousness of fear, governments freely pass laws that allow untoward incursions into citizen's privacy. Personal computers are scanned for unlawful material, books are scrutinized, bank accounts monitored. Airport watch lists exclude persons "with certain ethnic sounding names. Like a python that slowly chokes its prey, the Orwellian nightmare of Big Brother government has come to pass.

Other technologies, even on their face would seem difficult to defend. In the case of nuclear technology, the risks far outweigh any perceived benefits. Nationalist minded leaders and politicians of practically every stripe have long argued that nuclear bombs would help keep their own constituents safe and secure. However, once this same technology became freely available to others, such proliferation suddenly seemed reckless, raising the spectre of a doomsday scenario. It is seen that even the so-called "peaceful" application of nuclear technology is viewed by many as no more than a facade in facilitating the production of yet more nuclear weapons.

Nuclear development is a highly complex and risky technology where even a minor accident can potentially expose thousands even millions of innocent people to harmful, sometimes deadly levels of highly toxic nuclear radiation. Such technology can hardly be deemed necessary for the actual needs of human society.

At this time in history certain "democratic" styled governments are highly fearful that a nuclear device will fall into the hands of a terrorist group. They fear the technology they previously used to give their own governments an intimidating edge will somehow be used against them. Indeed, their fears are not unfounded, as other demonic governments continuously vie to gain ever more power and control. With such devastatingly lethal weapons at the disposal of more and more ruthless leaders, the world is poised on the brink of chaos and calamity.

There is no shortage of techno-enthusiasts, ever quick to point toward and take credit for such successes as an increased human life span, greater access to information and a host of other supposed life style advantages, all brought about independently through man's innovative technologies.

Certainly there are intelligent applications for many such imaginative technologies, and many devotees are quick to utilize such things in Krsna's service. Still, be it lowtech or high, any seeming advancement in material science, unless it is positively utilized toward increasing our dependence on Krsna and applied in our preaching efforts to help spread Krsna consciousness, such things will only prolong our suffering in the material world.

Again, from Sriraad-Bhagavatam: 10-1-22, Srila Prabhupada comments, "...Without reference to the Supreme power of the Personality of Godhead, demons assert themselves to be independent kings and presidents, and thus they create a disturbance by increasing their military power. When such disturbances are very prominent, Krsna appears. At present also, various demoniac states all over the world are increasing their military power in many ways, and the whole situation has become distressful. Therefore Krsna has appeared by His name, in the Hare Krsna movement, which will certainly diminish the burden of the world. Philosophers, religionists, and people in general must take to this movement very seriously, for man made plans and devices will not help bring peace on earth. The transcendental sound Hare Krsna is not different from the person Krsna... There is no difference between the sound Hare Krsna and Krsna the person." Those devotees who are sincerely preaching the Krsna conscious philosophy must themselves be thoroughly convinced and have full faith that Krsna is factually present in His names. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura has sung, "suddha-bhakata-carana-renu, bhajana-anukula: 'Unless one associates with a pure devotee he cannot be influenced to understand devotional service.'" So unless one is spiritually advanced, convinced of the purport of Hari-nama, he cannot influence an audience. Thus, if we are to make a real difference in the world we must ourselves become completely fixed in Krsna consciousness.

It may seem a hopeless task, trying to stem the tide of material advancement. We devotees are so few, the materialists, so powerful, so many in number. Their cities teeming with misguided souls who are mad for the empty promise of Maya's latest glittering gambit, technology.

Somehow we must remain mindful of who the actual controller is and where our best interests lie to find true security. Because Krsna is identical to His name we may act as messengers, bringing Him into every town and village. We can hardly change anyone or stem the tide of materialism by our own efforts. Only Krsna in the form of His holy name may do that. We can be confident that if we are acting according to the directions of guru and Krsna, our lives and the lives of those we touch will become spiritually transformed.

If we can catch up the humble, spiritual mood of Lord Caitanya's Siksastaka, wherein He states, "0 almighty Lord! I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor have I any desire to enjoy beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. What I want only is that I may have Your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth," then without a doubt our lives will be successful. We will be inoculated from the disease of material consciousness and remain pure in our efforts to serve guru and Krsna. Rather than fear, our lives will be centered around the ever growing bliss of devotional service. Instead of descending to spiteful loathing of our fellow man, we will distribute the true compassion for this age, the chanting of the holy names of Krsna.

Your worthless servant,
Tirtha dasa