True civilization means realizing the self as spirit and returning to Godhead, not merely improving material conditions.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.24 — November 4, 1972, Vṛndāvana 721104SB-VRNDAVAN [39:03 Minutes] SB-01.02.24_721104SB-VRNDAVAN Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [leads chanting of verse, etc.] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] pārthivād dāruṇo dhūmas tasmād agnis trayīmayaḥ tamasas tu rajas tasmāt sattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanam [SB 1.2.24] [break] [leads chanting of synonyms] [break] pārthivāt—from earth; dāruṇaḥ—firewood; dhūmaḥ—smoke; tasmāt—from that; agniḥ—fire; trayī—Vedic sacrifices; mayaḥ—made of; tamasaḥ—in the mode of ignorance; tu—but; rajaḥ—the mode of passion; tasmāt—from that; sattvam—the mode of goodness; yat—which; brahma—the Absolute Truth; darśanam—realization. [03:05] Translation: "Coal, firewood, is better than raw wood, and fire is even better, for fire is the soul of Vedic sacrifice.
Similarly passion, or rajas, is better than ignorance, or tamas; but goodness, sattva, is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth, or Brahman." Prabhupāda: pārthivād dāruṇo dhūmas tasmād agnis trayīmayaḥ tamasas tu rajas tasmāt sattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanam [SB 1.2.24] This is gradual process of evolution. Pārthivād dāruṇaḥ. Just like raw wood, then, when it is dry, then it is fit for igniting fire. Then, when you ignite fire, first there is smoke, and after it is mature, the flames come out.
And agnis trayīmayaḥ. And when the flame is there... Just like we generally perform fire sacrifice. Unless the flame comes, we do not chant the mantra or pour the ghee and the grains. Because that is the beginning of yajña.
Strayīmaya. Strayī means Vedic yajñas. So our point is to come to the platform of performing yajña. Yajña means Viṣṇu, the platform of satisfying Viṣṇu. This is the perfection of life.
Dull, dull brain, ignorance; just like animals, they are in the tamo-guṇa, ignorance. They cannot understand anything. So gradually they are promoted to the human form of life, rajo-guṇa. Generally, human form of life, rajo-guṇa, activity for creation, we can very well see.
Animals—cats, dogs, cows, asses—and a little civilized, engaged in sense gratification in a different way, very active, passion. So these two stages of life will not help us, because our aim is to come to the point of brahma-darśanam, self-realization, ahaṁ brahmāsmi(1). To remain karmīs or remain animallike life, no knowledge, simply eating, sleeping, mating, that's all... And little advancement means the same eating, sleeping, mating, but in a polished way... Mostly we find in the Western countries, the aim is animal propensities, but in a polished way.
Suppose they live in very, very high skyscraper buildings, and the animals live in some cave, in some hole, in some nest. So for living condition, improving the living condition, does not mean brahma-darśanam. Brahmā-darśanam is another thing. Improving the living condition, improving the eating condition, improving the sex life condition or improving the defending condition... Just like human civilization, they're discovering so many laser weapons, atomic bomb, so many things.