Prabhupada's Comments on Climate Change

By Bhakta Griffin - 29.2016

Srila Prabhupada's Comments on Environmental Well-being and the Causes of Climate Change

Srila Prabhupada's mission was to make people conscious of Krishna, or God, and to free them from the material conception of living. In the process of coming to the full state of Krishna prema, or pure transcendental love of Krishna, people were taught to simply tolerate temporary problems like extreme weather:

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya 
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino 'nityas
tams titiksasva bharata

"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." (Bhagavad-gita 2.14)

Although Srila Prabhupada knew about the environmental movement practically from its inception in the 1960's, he was not even slightly interested in adapting his mission to include its goals, or any others of that era's youth culture.

"We will present our program at Bhaktivedanta Manor exactly in the line of Lord Caitanya, by kirtana, prasadam distribution and speaking from Bhagavad-gita. We cannot deviate even an inch in order to attract the followers of the ecology philosophy or any other materialistic, utopian movement. You say you know a number of influential leaders of this group, but what is the use of knowing them, since you yourself found them deficient and left them? Our ideal Vedic community will attract everyone on its own merit, and we shall be glad to welcome and accept everyone who comes without our compromising in order to attract them." (Letter to Mahadeva - Mayapur, 3 March, 1974)

Krishna, or God consciousness included everything. Srila Prabhupada preached that if you watered the tree at its root, all the leaves and branches would be included. Yasmin vijnate sarvam etam vijnatam bhavanti (Mundaka Upanisad 1.3) - If you simply understand Krishna then you have full knowledge.

For Srila Prabhupada this had practical application. It was not simply philosophy. His Vedic idea was that if God is pleased with the world, all the material aspects of life would fall into harmony. In this regard Srila Prabhupada would generally cite the Bhagavatam's accounts of life during the reigns of saintly kings like Maharaja Yudhisthira and Maharaja Prithu, or during Lord Krishna's appearance. In the next quote Srila Prabhupada says that phenomena such as global warming, an "excessive climatic influence," would not occur if the world was under the superintendence of such a pious Vedic ruler.

"So the, in the present age of Kali, the government men will be dasyu (thieves). This is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Dasyu-dharmabhih. You can, we can see practically. You cannot keep your money. You earn with hard labor, but you cannot keep gold, you cannot keep jewelry, you cannot keep money. And... They will take it away by laws. So they make law that... Yudhisthira Maharaja was just quite opposite. He wanted to see that every citizen is so happy that they are not troubled even by excessive heat and excessive cold. Ati-vyadhi. They are not suffering from any disease, they are not suffering from excessive climatic influence, eating very nicely, and feeling security of person and property. That was Yudhisthira Maharaja. Not only Yudhisthira Maharaja. Almost all the kings, they were like that." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.18 - Mayapura, September 28, 1974)

This is further described in the next verse from Srimad Bhagavatam. In the lecture comments immediately following the verse reading Srila Prabhupada describes how Vedic culture is inherently part of what we now call a healthy ecosystem:

"Pradyumna dasa leads chanting:

nadhayo vyadhayah klesa
daiva-bhutatma-hetavah
ajata-satrav abhavan
jantunam rajni karhicit

Due to the King's having no enemy, the living beings were not at any time disturbed by mental agonies, diseases, or excessive heat or cold. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.6

Srila Prabhupada: So in the previous verse it has been described that nature was favorable. The river, the hills, the mountains, forests, vegetables, creepers, these are our natural surroundings. Animals... Everyone was complete. It is a cooperation. So many living entities, according to karma, we have got different bodies. Some has got the human form of body, some has got the body of an animal, some has got the body of a tree, creeper. Sometimes hills, mountains, also. Everyone. Their business is cooperation. We can study from our own body. There are different parts of the body, but it is a business of cooperation. Hand, legs, eyes, ears, nose, they are all cooperating for the upkeep of the body. Similarly, all living entities -- may be in different types of bodies -- they are meant for cooperating in the matter of serving the Supreme Lord, central point. So if the government or the chief of the executive power, the king, is just to the point, dharmena, as it was said, "Abiding by the religious principles, ruling over the country," then everything, even natural elements, they become cooperative. They must become cooperative. What is nature? Nature is also another energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So the nature is also working under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate [Bhagavad-gita 9.10]

So Maharaja Yudhisthira's time, the cooperation was so complete that everyone was free from anxiety, disease, calamities, natural disturbance." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.6 - Mayapur, June 21, 1973)

Needless to say this is hardly the case at the present time. As stated above and as understandable from objective study of the events that have brought about global climate change, "the government men will be dasyu (thieves)." Nevertheless chanting Hare Krishna will even improve the material situation of the billions of people who are suffering these effects:

"Let everyone chant Hare Krsna home to home. Whatever they have got, all right. Just begin chanting. Just see what happens. We are trying to introduce this chanting. But the rascals will not take it. What can be done? There is no loss if they chant Hare Krsna worldwide. Where is the loss? But still, they will not. And everything can be had. Sarva-kama-dugha mahi. Mahi. Krsna, He is... The mother... Krsna, how He has arranged this mahi? Everything is coming. Actually you will find that the rose flower is coming, the mine is coming, the gold is coming, the coal is coming, the petrol is coming. Everything is there in the mahi. And who has arranged it? Just see. Sarva-kama-dugha mahi. And if there is regular waterfall, then you get everything supply. And by performing yajna, you get regular waterfall, rainfall. And in this age all other types of yajna is not possible. Kalau...

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Cc. Adi 17.21]

So introduce this. What is their loss? If everyone, home to home or work to work, factory to factory... Let them." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.3-4 - Tehran, March 13, 1975)

Modern Culture

On the whole, Srila Prabhupada's recommendation for the mass of humanity was "simple living and high thinking." Although he recommended chanting Hare Krishna everywhere, even in factories, he was hardly a fan of industrialization. Virtually all the scientists who study climate change see its cause in the increase in carbon-dioxide emissions that began with the advent of the industrial age, about 200 years ago. Early industry predominantly used the fossil fuel coal, but now this has become a junior accomplice to petroleum products. Srila Prabhupada had his own way of describing industrial enterprise.

"But here in this material world they are engaged in very, very hard work. They have invented so many factories, iron factories, melting the iron, these machinery, and it is called ugra karma, asuric karma. After all, you will eat some bread and some fruit or some flower. Why you have invented so big, big factories? That is avidya, nescience, avidya. Suppose hundred years ago there was no factory. So all the people of the world were starving? Eh? Nobody was starving. In, in, in our Vedic literature we don't find any mention anywhere about the factory. No. There is no mention. And how opulent they were. Even in Vrndavana. In Vrndavana, as soon as Kamsa invited Nanda Maharaja, immediately they took wagons of milk preparation to distribute. And you will find in the literature they are all well dressed, well fed. They have got enough food, enough milk, enough cows. But they are village, village men. Vrndavana is a village. There is no scarcity. No moroseness, always jolly, dancing, chanting and eating. So we have created these problems. Simply you have created." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.35 - Los Angeles, April 27, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada already described modern politicians as thieves. However he did not have much better assessments of the other leaders and influential people who cheered on and profited from the development of the modern Western industrial arrangement that is now spreading all over the world, including to India under leaders like Modi.

"These rascals, they do not know what is the aim of life. They are captivated by the external energy of God. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni-baddhah. They are led by blind leaders. All these materialistic leaders, the politicians, the scientists, the philosophers, the technologists and so on, businessmen, so on, so on, and all these material -- they are all blind and they are leading other blind. So what will be? The result will be catastrophe, because both of them are blind. If one man is with eyes, he can lead another thousands of men, blind men: 'Please come. I shall help you crossing the road.' But if the leader is also blind and the followers are blind, then what is the result? That is happening. They are thinking that 'By bodily comfort, by sense gratification, we shall be happy.' But that is not possible. We do not know. Actually we have no knowledge. Dehantaram-praptih." (Lecture - Laguna Beach, September 30, 1972)

Disciple: Srila Prabhupada, it's amazing. People have become so shortsighted. For instance, they open a factory for some kind of economic development but they're not thinking of the factory's ill effects. Water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, stress, broken families, delinquency, drugs, crime -- so many things.

Srila Prabhupada: Therefore Krsna calls them duskrtinas (misdirected), and then He calls them mudhas, asses. (Conversation, New Vrindaban, June 26, 1976)

In this last remark Srila Prabhupada's disciple nicely lists some of the ill effects of industrialization (externalities) that would now include global warming. Srila Prabhupada was very much aware of how the conveniences of the modern age, such as automobiles, were responsible for the modern suburban sprawl lifestyle that has increased the use of fossil fuels and other externalities at exponential rates. These are the things that the blind (andha) leaders described previously have inaugurated and profited from.

"So many cars are being manufactured every year, and for that purpose so many roads have to be excavated, prepared, and... Problems after problems. Therefore it is maya-sukha. We are trying to be happy this way, manufacture some way, but it creates another problem. I am giving this particular example of motorcar because in your country you have got the greatest number of cars. But that does not solve the problem. You have manufactured cars. I have practical experience. When Dayananda wanted to take me to a doctor from Los Angeles, it is thirty miles off. Thirty miles off. So I had to take trouble to go thirty miles and come thirty miles before I could consult the doctor. You see? And if you have created cars, then you must have meet your friends and necessities thirty miles off, forty miles off. You can go from New York to Boston in one hour, but go to the airport you will take three hours. (laughter) Therefore it is called maya-sukhaya. (laughter) Maya means false, illusory. We are trying to create some very comfortable situation, but creating another uncomfortable situation. This is called maya-su... This is the way of... If you do not be satisfied by the natural comforts offered by God, or nature, if you want to create artificial comfort, then you have to create another discomfort for counteracting. They do not know that. They are thinking that 'We are creating very comfortable situation.' Fifty miles going to the office. For earning livelihood, fifty miles, from one place to another. I saw in Hawaii. When Gaurasundara was working to maintain our temple, he was working. Unfortunately, he had to go fifty miles off from the temple to work for it. So I was very sorry to see how this boy is going fifty miles. How Krsna will say? But Krsna has given us chance. Now they haven't got to work. So Prahlada Maharaja says that 'These vimudhan, these materialistic persons, these rascals...' He has exactly used this word, vimudhan. Mudha I have already explained several times in connection with Bhagavad-gita. Mudha means rascals. And here Prahlada Maharaja uses another nice word with addition, "vi." Vimudhan. Vi means visesa, "particularly." The vimudhan... Maya-sukhaya bharam udvahatah: 'They have created unnecessary burden on their shoulder simply for temporary happiness.' Temporary happiness." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.6-8 - New York, July 21, 1971)

Perhaps the most materialistic aspect of modern society is consumerism. One of the most profitable and "creative" sectors of the modern economy is advertising. It is now practically impossible to avoid ads once one consults any type of media or leaves their home. The purpose of these ads is to induce people to desire products that they almost invariably don't need. The production of all these unneeded things nevertheless consumes all sorts of natural resources and produces that many more of the externalities listed previously. Srila Prabhupada did not view this manufacture of material desire very kindly.

"Now, you have created so many horseless carriages, now the problem is where to get petrol. In your country it has become a problem. Brahmananda was speaking to me yesterday. There are so many problems. Simply unnecessarily we have created so many artificial wants. Kama-karmabhih. This is called kama. So everyone, because of that unlimited desire, one after another... This desire, when this desire fulfilled, another desire, another desire, another desire. In this way you are simply creating problems. And when the desires are not fulfilled, then we become frustrated, confused. The frustration is there." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.35 - Los Angeles, April 27, 1973)

"What is this human civilization? Jumping like dog, in a motorcar, that's all. This is not civilization. This is dog civilization, that's all. And actually what benefit they have derived? They are not satisfied. One man has got this car, and next year another car, another car. And the car manufacturer also giving fashion. 'This is 1974 edition, this is 1975 edition.' And they are earning money with hard labor. 'All right, get a motorcar.' And again, next year change. What is this civilization? No satisfaction. They do not know where is the point of satisfaction. It is dog civilization." (Morning Walk - May 28, 1974, Rome)

The History of Western "Civilization"

Of course, the spectacle of modern materialistic society did not arise instantly. Hundreds of years ago all the political, cultural and economic building blocks were conceived and put in place, mostly in Europe and America - Western "civilization."

Perhaps the first was private property. Previous to 500 years ago even Europe lived under a largely communal arrangement, what was called the feudal or medieval system. This was somewhat similar in structure to the Vedic varnashrama arrangement. Nobles and knights ruled domains worked by serfs or peasants, who grew crops and gave a certain amount of them to the noble for protection. Both groups depended on each other. The land of the domain was not considered anyone's personal property. This all changed about 400 years ago when certain nobles found that they could amass personal wealth by using the land to produce products like wool for sale. The peasants were then either swindled or literally driven off of their ancestral plots.

Although many claim that private property originated in the Roman empire, the acclaimed 19th Century jurist Sir Henry James Sumner Maine wrote in his book, Ancient Law, that the Roman conception was more similar to the villages of the India of his day. This arrangement was described by Srila Prabhupada in a letter:

"As for land ownership, in the Vedic civilization the land was given to the people for cultivation not for ownership, and a tax was collected which was 25% of the person's income. The land belonged to the state and the man would cultivate it and pay 25% to the state. If he has no income then he doesn't have to pay. If he doesn't pay tax he may be disowned of the land. One cannot get land from the government unless he agrees to produce something and if everyone produces food then there is no scarcity. At least he has his own food produced by himself. Now people are educated as sudras. They are going to work to produce what is not urgently needed by society." (Letter to Balavanta - Tirupati, 28 April, 1974)

The post-medieval European idea of private property was then exported everywhere their subsequent Colonialism took it. Most settlers were descendents of former peasants and took the opportunity to also become what could be called a petty type of noble. These were the people that helped drive indigenous American, African and Australian people off of theircommunal lands. In this way we can understand that virtually all modern land ownership is based on some form of theft. Srila Prabhupada did not have a very high opinion of the institution of private property. As implied from the above letter, it was hardly Vedic.

"Actually nothing is private property. That is our philosophy. Isavasyam idam sarvam: 'Everything belongs to God.' That's a fact. Under the influence of maya we are thinking that 'This is my property.' Just like suppose this cushion. Wherefrom the wood has come? Has anybody produced wood? Who has produced? It is God's property. Rather, we have stolen God's property and claiming, 'My property.' Then Australia. The Englishmen came here, but is that the property of the Englishmen? It was there. America, it was there. And when everything will be finished, it will be there. In the middle we come and claim, 'It is my property,' and fight." (Room Conversation with Two Lawyers and Guest - May 22, 1975, Melbourne)

isavasyam idam sarvam
yat kinca jagatyam jagat 
tena tyaktena bhunjitha
ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong." (Sri Isopanishad, Mantra 1)

Political scientists devoted to Western culture are proud to point out that private property is essential to the modern concepts of freedom and democracy. Land owners are more protected legally from government and other abuses.

Monarchy, however, another aspect of Vedic culture, was the political system of medieval Europe and practically the rest of that era's more organized world. Oppressed by the kings and nobles who drove them off their ancestral lands, the people of France and the American colonies overthrew their corrupt tormentors, and so began the period of modern Democracy. In this way we can understand that the modern way of life is based on departure from at least two fundamental aspects of the Vedic way of life that Srila Prabhupada taught – monarchy and God's ownership of all land. Previously, as in Vedic culture, the European kings and nobles were trained in codes of chivalry and other moral codes so that they would rule ethically. The poorer examples have already been mentioned. However democratically elected heads of state have failed to provide any higher standard.

"We actually see from modern history that monarchies have been abolished by various revolutions, but unfortunately the monarchies have been abolished to establish the supremacy of third-class and fourth-class men. Although monarchies overpowered by the modes of passion and ignorance have been abolished in the world, the inhabitants of the world are still unhappy, for although the qualities of the former monarchs were degraded by taints of ignorance, these monarchs have been replaced by men of the mercantile and worker classes whose qualities are even more degraded. When the government is actually guided by brahmanas, or God conscious men, then there can be real happiness for the people." (Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.15)

The concept of individual freedom is also foundational to modern society. In modern civics classes the medieval lives of peasants subjugated by kings and feudal tradition are contrasted with Democracy's individual choice and opportunity. Of course, virtually all that choice and opportunity only ends up being used to select between competing brands of consumer products. These "choices" then are little more than the fulfillment of the get-rich schemes of the misdirected leaders described earlier. The lasting result of this consumer feeding frenzy created by the laws of material nature has only been more externalities like climate change and other environmental depletion and destruction. This is what happens when sudra-like unintelligent people ruled only by sense gratification are allowed to have wealth and "freedom." In the final analysis, the Earth's life sustaining abilities were far better protected under the relatively Vedic medieval system wherein these people were under greater limitation.

Srila Prabhupada commented regularly on how individual freedom was an illusion, and how the laws of material nature are always controlling everyone and everything. The following quote mentions India and food shortage, but the principle described can be applied to any country dealing with environmental problems.

"It is a false notion that you are independent. You are not independent. It is a false notion. Nobody is independent. We may be puffed up that 'We belong to an independent nation. Now we have got...' Just like Indian. We were under British rule. Now we have got independence. This is all false notion. What is that independence? The nature's law is forcing starvation. What is this independence? They are now begging grains from other countries. In British time there was no begging at least. Now their independence means they are begging. So these are all false notions. Nobody is independent. He is dependent in some way or other under the laws of nature. The laws of nature at once can force the stringent laws, and he becomes subservient. So subservient, to become subservient, is your nature. You cannot alter it. The best thing is that instead of becoming subservient to this false, you should become subservient to the Absolute Truth. Satyam param dhimahi." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 10.4 - New York, January 3, 1967)

"The mass of people in general are tools in the hands of the modern politicians and leaders of the people." (Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11)

Srila Prabhupada regularly commented on how unintelligent sense enjoying people will inevitably vote for leaders like themselves. This is a big reason why Democracy has not provided any real solution to the world's looming climate change crisis.

"Nowadays it is the days of vote. Any rascal, if he gets vote somehow or other, then he acquires the exalted post. That is also written in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that in the Kali-yuga there will be no consideration who is fit to occupy the exalted post of presidentship or royal throne. Simply somehow or other, by hook and crook, he'll occupy the seat. Therefore people are suffering. It is not... Nowadays, in democratic days, the government by the people, government for the people. So if the government is by the people, yes, you select your representative. If you are a fool, then you will select another fool. So Bhagavata says, sva-vid-varaha ustra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh. Anyone who is not a devotee, Krsna conscious devotee of God, then he may be in a exalted post, but he is praised by some people who are exactly like sva. Sva means dog, and vid-varaha means pigs who eat stool. Sva-vid-varaha. Vid-varaha. And ustra, ustra means camel. And ustra-kharaih. Khara means ass. Sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih. If a person who is not a devotee, he is praised or he is exalted, then the praisers, the persons who is praising him, he must be among these animals: dog, camel, pig and ass. So the whole population is like that, like dog, like camel, like ass and like vid-varaha, pig, the stool-eater, the whole population, at the present moment. So he must elect another big animal who is also in this category. Because he has no knowledge. If you takes votes from the camels, to whom he will vote? Another big camel, that's all. If you take votes from the dog, then whom he will elect? Another big dog. Therefore, anyone who is not a devotee of God, Krsna, he is either of these animals. And if he is praised, it is to be understood that he is being praised by the similar type of animals. So if we remain sva-vid-varahostra-khara, then we must elect another big sva-vid-varahostra-khara. So how there can be good situation of the state? It is not possible. Therefore the public must be educated so that they may not elect another big dog or big camel or big ass to the exalted post. It is the public's fault. Nowadays it is democratic days. So why should you complain against such-and-such person or president? You have elected him, and now you find fault with him. So it was your fault that you selected such a rascal, sva-vid-varahostra. It is very right conclusion." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.37 - Los Angeles, December 15, 1973)

Free enterprise is the driving force behind most modern activity. It is not that Vedic culture prohibited business or commerce – it was that said Capitalism was pretty much limited to the production of food. Modern society has expanded this natural human activity to include all sorts of unnecessary and wasteful consumer activity. Srila Prabhupada always differentiated between economic activity that facilitated simple living and self-realization and that which distracted from it. Now instead of growing food for local people, much land is used to grow unnecessary crops like coffee that will be exported to wealthy countries. Also much grain is grown only to fatten feedlot cattle for slaughter, where anywhere from two to twenty pounds of grain result in only one pound of meat.

"Human civilizations should depend on the production of material nature without artificially attempting economic development to turn the world into a chaos of artificial greed and power only for the purpose of artificial luxuries and sense gratification. This is but the life of dogs and hogs." (Purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.4)

"But instead of producing food grains, we are producing Goodyear tires. So how we can eat? Now when there is scarcity of foodstuff you cannot eat the Goodyear tires. But people's attention has been diverted in the industrial activities. They are given allurement, 'Come here. I shall give you twenty rupees per day. You give up your agricultural activities. You come in the factory. Produce tire tube, iron stool,' and so on so on. So we are violating the orders of Krsna. Krsna says that produce food grain. But we are producing unnecessary things. And therefore you are suffering. Krsna is giving very good advice: annad bhavanti bhutani. You produce sufficient food grain, all over, not only here. Another anartha is this nationalism. Nationalism: 'This is America,' 'This is India,' 'This is Africa,' 'This is Australia.' Why? Isavasyam idam sarvam. Simple thing. Everything belongs to God. Isavasya. There will be no scarcity. I have studied very thoroughly that there are sufficient land still without any cultivation. In Africa I have seen sufficient land. But they are utilizing it for producing coffee and tea. No food grains. So these are the anarthas. Anartha. Unnecessary. People will not die without coffee and tea. But they have made the whole world self-dependent on coffee and tea, mercantile policy. There is anartha." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6 - Vrndavana, September 5, 1976)

The modern free market capitalist economy is constantly innovating and growing. Perfectly usable things and buildings are constantly being thrown out or demolished simply because people have been induced to want something newer. The modern economy is considered healthy only if there is constant growth. This is hardly sustainable on a planet that remains the same size. This means that sooner or later the world will run out of some key natural resources or cease to be able to dilute or purify all waste products. This is exactly what is happening with the runaway production of the greenhouse gases carbon-dioxide and methane that are causing global warming. Srila Prabhupada condemned materialistic activity that resulted in the unnecessary waste of resources, particularly trees.

"Just like a child is seeking after some enjoyment, he's breaking something, enjoyment. But he does not, that... He is breaking, but he's simply enjoying that breaking. Similarly, we do not know what is enjoyment in this material concept of life. We are breaking and building. In your country I have seen in several places. Nice building is dismantled, and again, in that very place, another building is raised. You see? Breaking and building. Breaking and... 'Oh, this building is old. Break it.' The same childish play. You see? Simply wasting engagement, valuable time of this human form. Breaking and building, breaking and building. 'This motorcar is useless. Another '69 model.' And thousands of people are engaged in that '69 model. You see? What is that? In essence, the breaking and building, breaking and building. Just like the child. You see? So unless one has got better engagement, Krsna consciousness, surely they will be engaged in this breaking and building, breaking and building. Childish engagement." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.62-72 - Los Angeles, December 19, 1968)

"Another point is that trees also should be given protection. During its lifetime, a tree should not be cut for industrial enterprises. In Kali-yuga, trees are indiscriminately and unnecessarily cut for industry, in particular for paper mills that manufacture a profuse quantity of paper for the publication of demoniac propaganda, nonsensical literature, huge quantities of newspapers and many other paper products. This is a sign of a demoniac civilization. The cutting of trees is prohibited unless necessary for the service of Lord Visnu. Yajnarthat karmano'nyatra loko'yam karma-bandhanah: [Bg. 3.9]) 'work done as a sacrifice for Lord Visnu must be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world.' But if the paper mills stop producing paper, one may argue, how can our ISKCON literature be published? The answer is that the paper mills should manufacture paper only for the publication of ISKCON literature because ISKCON literature is published for the service of Lord Visnu. This literature clarifies our relationship with Lord Visnu, and therefore the publication of ISKCON literature is the performance of yajna. Yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]). Yajna must be performed, as indicated by the superior authorities. The cutting of trees simply to manufacture paper for the publication of unwanted literature is the greatest sinful act." (Purport Srimad Bhagavatam 7.2.1)

Perhaps the worst quality of the modern capitalist-democratic system is corruption. Wealthy corporations and CEOs give huge campaign contributions to political candidates and buy not only influence, but sometimes literally write the laws that these people pass. Although this is called 'campaign finance', more objective people see it for what it really is – bribery. This has enabled large energy companies to block any meaningful effort to limit fossil fuel use to solve the climate change problem. Srila Prabhupada regularly remarked about such politicians' qualifications.

"Dishonest miscreants flourish because of cowardly and impotent executive heads of state. But when the executive heads are strong enough to curb all sorts of dishonest miscreants, in any part of the state, certainly they cannot flourish. When the miscreants are punished in an exemplary manner, automatically all good fortune follows." (Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.14)

"But at times, due to the influence of the ignorance mode of material nature, the lowest of the material modes, kings and administrators come into power without knowledge and responsibility, and such foolish administrators live like animals for the sake of their own personal interest. The result is that the whole atmosphere becomes surcharged with anarchy and vicious elements. Nepotism, bribery, cheating, aggression and, therefore, famine, epidemic, war and similar other disturbing features become prominent in human society." (Purport, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.25)

Of course, at the current time hardly anyone seriously pursues self-realization. The misdirected business people described earlier see no other purpose in life except to amass greater and greater wealth, along with its accompanying influence and power. This then feeds the whole vicious cycle of unnecessary consumer goods production depleting natural resources and producing greenhouse gases, something that is heating the atmosphere and leading to the extreme weather that is turning the planet more and more rapidly into a wasteland. This could be stopped if people simply realized that the purpose of life was to realize God and cease or minimize material activities. Srila Prabhupada did not have very good things to say about such business people.

"If a rascal is busy, that means he's simply spoiling the energy. . . . So the busy fool is dangerous. There are four classes of men: lazy intelligent, busy intelligent, lazy fool and busy fool. (laughter) So first-class man is lazy intelligent. Just like you'll see the high-court judges. They're very lazy and most intelligent. That is first-class man. They are doing everything very soberly. And the next class: busy intelligent. Intelligence should be used very soberly. And the third class: lazy fool-lazy, at the same time, fool. And the fourth class: busy fool. Busy fool is very dangerous. So all these people, they're busy. Even in this country, everywhere, all over the world, not this country or that country. They have discovered this horseless carriage — very busy. 'Ons, ons,' (imitates cars' noise) this way this way, this way. But actually, they are not intelligent. Busy fool. Therefore they are creating problems after problems. That's a fact. They are so busy, but because they are fools, therefore they are creating problems." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.23 - Hawaii, January 19, 1974)

"Too much of an external view of the world gives rise to an overly large-scale and difficult type of industry and trade, known as ugra-karma. The word ugra means 'hard" or 'difficult,' and karma means 'task.' The development of hard and difficult industrial undertakings always hinders the progressive cultivation of the human spirit. Asuric leaders of society never retire from such lustful undertakings unless killed by the laws of nature. For them there is no question of retirement or of cultivating the human spirit. But men in the mode of goodness have an introspective mind, and after a regulative struggle for existence they retire at a ripe old age and engage their time in cultivating the human spirit." (Light of The Bhagavat, verse 37)

If the planet continues warming at predicted rate there will be more drought and desertification. Other places will experience excessive rainfall and flooding. Crops that currently thrive in one place will have to be grown elsewhere. All sorts of new insect pests will become immune to pesticides and unexpectedly thrive in these changing climatic zones. This is the type of chaos predicted for Kali yuga in Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada regularly described how seriously pursuing self-realization could help humanity avoid all this.

"But these rascals, they are being put into severe penalties. Duhkhalayam asasvatam. More and mo... The more they are forgetting God, they are put in, they are put into more and more miserable condition. Practically we see, with the advancement Kali-yuga, people are forgetting his relationship with Krsna, and the price of commodity and the food grains, the price is increasing. They cannot eat sufficiently. So many people are dying of starvation. If they cannot eat, how they will live?

Therefore Krsna gives His instruction. He's the supreme ruler. He gives this order: annad bhavanti bhutani: 'You require food grains.' This is practical. Who will disagree with Krsna, that 'We don't require food grains; we require bolts and nuts in the factory?' Who will say? This is practical. So they do not... Just like we see here that, that they do not grow food grains. They are growing jute because they will get some money, more money. But the rascal does not know that 'I will get more money, and it will be taken away next by the food grain seller.' So similarly, we are interested in industry, in plan-making, this, that, so many things. But Krsna does not say that 'You open slaughterhouse and industries and brothels and cinema.' No. Krsna does not say. Krsna says, 'Grow more food, rascal! You'll eat and become strong.' And nobody is obeying Krsna. Is it not? Practically try to understand Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavata. Not by sentiment. And preach this philosophy all over the world.

What Krsna says, that is practical. Annad bhavanti bhutani parjanyad anna-sambhavah. 'How we shall get anna? There is no rain.' You see nowadays, there is no rain. Why? Because you are, we are all rascals. We do not know how to get rain. Krsna says, parjanyad anna-sambhavah: 'There will be food grains when there is sufficient rain." And how rain there will be? Yajnad bhavati parjanyah: [Bg. 3.14] 'And if you perform yajna, then there will be sufficient rain." So nowadays you, people may say, 'How to perform yajna? It requires so much money, so much ghee, so much food grains to offer as oblations.' But Krsna has made it very easy. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayaih. I know, the sastras know that in the Kali-yuga it will be very difficult to perform the ritualistic yajna ceremony because people will be poor, poverty-stricken. Where they will get ghee, and where they will get grains? No. This is yajna: kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. This is yajna." (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.18 - Mayapur, September 28, 1974)

In this way Srila Prabhupada taught that all of the world's problems could be solved simply by performing the sankirtana yajna of chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare and following the "simple living and high thinking" recommendations of Vedic culture. Even by material calculation this will result in an extensive decrease of greenhouse gas production and the depletion of natural resources. Humanity will prosper only when it is led by learned wise men, brahmanas, instead of the current group of self-interested materialists. Lord Krishna Himself describes the result of allowing such materially motivated people to lead human society:

etam drstim avastabhya
nastatmano 'lpa-buddhayah
prabhavanty ugra-karmanah
ksayaya jagato 'hitah

"Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world."(Bhagavad-gita 16.9)

In conclusion, although Srila Prabhupada's recorded and written remarks do not make anything available specifically about climate change, he was starkly clear in regard to its causes. As far as solving the problem, he taught that real Krishna consciousness fixes everything. All the material aspects of life are included if one simply acts to serve and please God. Therefore there is no need to change or alter pure Krishna consciousness because of climate change.

What the world's climate change dilemma does provide for devotees is a fantastic preaching opportunity and new frontier. Our next article will describe how perceptive people are now giving up faith in the institutions of Western society wholesale, much like they did in the 1960s, when the world's leaders brought us to the verge of nuclear war. Much like that era's idealistic young hippies becoming attracted to Srila Prabhupada, many such people are looking for the lifestyle solutions provided by Krishna consciousness.