Page 37 - Jaya Srila Prabhupada (English)
P. 37
Contribution to Culture and
Scholarship
Çréla Prabhupäda’s contribution to intellectual and
cultural life may be less obvious than his more visible
achievements in preaching, establishing temples, and
publishing books. However, the effect of a philosopher on
the way people think is the ultimate test of his influence.
Çréla Prabhupäda’s entire mission was to overcome the
atheistic worldview presently dominating the world, and to
establish Kåñëa as the Supreme Absolute Truth.
Çréla Prabhupäda was undoubtedly the most
prominent spiritual leader in the modern age. He was also
the most advanced scholar, philosopher, social critic,
psychologist, scientist, artist, and writer. By bringing Kåñëa
consciousness to the Western world, he gave the spark of
life that renders perfect all fields of study, and all arts and
science. Although the effect of his contribution is yet to be
properly recognized, the seeds which he planted will surely
fructify in due course of time.
Çréla Prabhupäda gave the proper subject for study—
Kåñëa consciousness—which not only satisfies the intellect
but illumines the heart. All branches of education can
make tremendous progress by taking direction from Çréla
Prabhupäda’s books. Mundane scholars who waste their
intelligence in minutely analyzing the permutations and
combinations of gross and subtle matter, have yet to
discover this higher dimension of learning.
Therefore Çréla Prabhupäda laid much stress on
convincing what he called the “scholarly class.” He liked
preaching to university professors and other intellectuals,
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