True human progress means surrendering to Krishna, not solving problems that material nature endlessly recreates.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation — September 8, 1969, Hamburg 690908R1-HAMBURG [64:48 Minutes] Conv_690908R1-HAMBURG Prabhupāda: ...Vedic civilization, unless one is inquisitive for the solution of the problems, he is not on the human being standard. Because there are so many problems. The animals cannot inquire, but a man can inquire. So unless one comes to this point, to inquire how these problems can be solved, he's not developed to human consciousness.
He's still in animal consciousness. Actually, the problem is that... What is this human civilization, advanced civilization? They are trying to solve problems. One problem is presented, and they try to solve it.
Just like at the present moment they have manufacture atomic bomb, and all the nations are anxious to keep peace, and they have started that United Nation organization to solve the problems. Although they are unable, but they are trying. So advancement of civilization means by nature some problem is offered, and they are trying to solve it. Anything you take, it is an attempt for trying to solve the problem. Just like in your country there is subway.
What is that subway? Because on the surface there is enormous traffic, to solve this problem they want to go underground. And in this way somebody thinks, "Oh, Western countries are advanced than the Eastern countries. They have made some solution." But after that, there is another problem.
So problem after problem. So what is the ultimate problem? The ultimate problem is we do not want to suffer. That's all. We want comfortable, peaceful life.
This is the ultimate problem. Is it not? Just think over. That is...
In Sanskrit language it is called ātyantika-duḥkha-nivṛttiḥ. Ātyantika-duḥkha-nivṛttiḥ, to solve the problems of miseries. We don't want any kind of misery. We don't want to suffer. We want very peaceful and joyful life. That is...