How many times have we heard that humans are social beings? Even in animals we find co-operation and a co-working matrix. What to speak of humans who have a unique gift of nature – consciousness. Especially spiritual consciousness. This consciousness has an inbuilt structure that is necessary for the development of basic values like truth, kindness, generosity, tolerance etc. These individual values help put the fundamental blocks of our society place – like economic development, social relations, community living and entertainment.

But the major problem with today’s world is that our social fabric is bereft of the individual values and the social setup is infiltrated with unwanted diversions and harmful addendums like gambling, drugs, smoking, dangerous sports AND EVEN SOCIAL MEDIA.   Unfortunately social media today has become a measure of our societal values.   This is because the consciousness has no superior engagements. There is general chaos, mismatches and degradation in the society in-spite of all the so-called advancement. Let’s understand what it means and why it is so…

Our mind is the seat of all impressions, motivations, desires, fears etc. These mental energies must be optimized minds are always disturbed and full of anxieties due to so many different engagements which are at loggerheads with our real nature. Externally, in the name of religion we see many people cheat innocent people. This is also one reason why people shun religion and in the process become godless. Srila Prabhupada says, “..in the name of religion so many sinful acts are being carried on that the people in general have neither peace of mind nor health of body. In the Kali-yuga the whole atmosphere is surcharged with faithlessness. Men are no longer interested in spiritual values. Material sense gratification is now the standard of civilization. For the maintenance of such material civilizations, man has formed complex nations and communities, and there is a constant strain of hot and cold wars between these different groups. It has become very difficult, therefore, to raise the spiritual standard due to the present distorted values of human society.” (SB 1.1.10)

This very clearly indicates that our societal premise is warped and prejudiced. It inclines towards hysterical materialism spawning two classes of people – cheaters and cheated. The underlying principle of human society is religion. But the real definition of religion is a very crucial here. “English word “religion” is a little different from Vedic definition of religion. Which is also called sanātana-dharma or eternal religion. Religion in general conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt another, but when we talk of sanātana-dharma, it refers to that activity which cannot be changed. For instance, liquidity cannot be taken from water, nor can heat be taken from fire. Similarly, the eternal function of the eternal living entity cannot be taken from the living entity. That inherent quality of living beings is called religion. That is dharma. This eternal religion has four pillars. But our cultural standing has degraded in general and we have forgotten these four basic principles of human society – austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. Without these basic tenets, there is no question of real advancement or better social values.

Various addictions like wine, tobacco, drugs or even illicit relationships with multiple partners – these degradations on the individual level will definitely affect our overall social values. And there is no way to check these evils by simply having statutory laws and policing. The root cause has to be addressed and the disease of the mind has to be cured by administration of the four basic principles of real human culture and societ – austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. Modern civilization and economic development are creating a new situation of poverty and scarcity with the result of blackmailing the consumer’s commodities…The preaching of the Bhāgavatam principles will automatically render all men austere, clean both inside and outside, merciful to the suffering, and truthful in daily behavior. That is the way of correcting the flaws of human society, which are very prominently exhibited at the present moment (SB 1.10.27)