generally for economic development
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He thus performs pious activities or religious functions in order to gain something material. But if such material gains are obtainable in other ways, then so-called religion is neglected. Religion includes four primary subjects, namely pious activities, economic development, satisfaction of the senses, and finally liberation from material bondage. Irreligious life is a barbarous condition. Indeed, human life begins when religion begins. Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating are the four principles of animal life. These are common both to animals and to human beings. But religion is the extra function of the human being. Without religion, human life is no better than animal life. Therefore, in human societies there is some form of religion which aims at self-realization and which makes reference to man's eternal relationship with God.
(More...) In the lower stages of human civilization, there is always competition to lord it over the material nature or, in other words, there is a continuous rivalry to satisfy the senses. Driven by such consciousness, man turns to religion. He thus performs pious activities or religious functions in order to gain something material. But if such material gains are obtainable in other ways, then so-called religion is neglected. This is the situation in modern civilization. Man is thriving economically, so at present he is not very interested in religion. Churches, mosques or temples are now practically vacant. Men are more interested in factories, shops, and cinemas than in religious places which were erected by their forefathers. This practically proves that religion is performed for some economic gains. Economic gains are needed for sense gratification. Often when one is baffled in the pursuit of sense gratification, he takes to salvation and tries to become one with the Supreme Lord. Consequently, all these states are simply different types of sense gratification.
(More...) Imported quote 15713 In the lower stage of human civilization there is always a competition in lording it over material Nature; or in other words, there is a continuous rivalry for satisfying the senses. And, driven by this consciousness of sense gratification, religiousness is performed. Pious activities or religious functions are performed with an aim generally for some material gain. If such material gain is obtainable in another way, then the so-called religiousness is neglected, as we can see in the modern human civilization. The economic desires being seemingly fulfilled in another way, nobody is interested in religion now. The church, mosque, or the temple is practically always a vacant place, and people are more interested in the factories, shops, and cinemas than in the religious places formerly erected by the forefathers of different paths of religiousness. This proves definitely that religiousness is performed for economic development, and economic development is needed for sense gratification. And where one is baffled in the matter of sense gratification, he takes to the cause of salvation in order to become one with the Supreme Whole. Therefore, all these stages are different examples of the same aim of life, namely sense gratification.
(More...) Imported quote 19449 There are other necessities for those who are not devotees. Those necessities are dharma artha kama moksa . Generally, in the material world everyone is necessity of gratifying his senses. So sometimes, under the cover of religiosity, they want to satisfy senses. The same thing... Just like one goes to church or temple to mitigate some material necessities. Just like the Christians go to the church for meeting the problems of bread; similarly, the Hindus or the Muslim, everyone goes to church, temple or mosque to pray something material: "God, I am very distressed. Kindly get me relief from this distressed condition," or "God, I am in need of money. I am very poor. Kindly give me some money," or any other, "I am now implicated in war." Just like Churchill, he introduced that everyone should go and pray for victory. So England was also praying for victory, and Germany was also praying for victory. So [chuckles] God is perplexed. [laughter] The thief is praying to God that "This night, I may steal without any hindrances." And the householder is praying, "My Lord, thief may not come here and steal my goods." And God has to adjust everything. So just imagine how much busy is God. There are millions and trillions of living entities. Each one of them, if they are at all interested in God-not all-so they are praying. Everyone is praying, "God, give me this benediction. Give me this benediction."
(More...) Imported quote 23878 Prabhupada: The dharma, artha, kama, moksa... . Generally people take to religion for improving economic condition. It is going on. They go to the church: "O God, give us our daily bread." And they'll go to the temple: "O mother Kali, give me this. O father Siva, give me this." So they take it for economic development, dharma. But that is not the proper way. Dharmasya hy apavargyasya. Dharma should be executed for stopping this material condition of life, apavarga. Pavarga. This material life is pavarga. Pa means parisrama, hard labor. And pha means phena, so hard labor that foams comes. Pa, pha, ba. And still it is baffled, vyartha. Bha: and always fear. And ma means death. So pa, pha, ba, bha, ma. So dharma means to stop this pa, pha, ba, bha, ma.
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