Suppose a beautiful bird is seen in the sky. A nature lover would reach for a camera to shoot its photo, whereas a hunter would reach for a gun to shoot it down. Why are their responses different? Because of their particular worldviews: the world as an arena of natural beauty or of potential prey.

Similarly, our worldview shapes everything we view. Today’s prevailing worldview is overall materialistic; it makes us believe that material pleasures are life’s ultimate purpose (Bhagavad-gita 16.08). Even if we hear about non-material realities such as soul or God, we nonchalantly neglect them as irrelevant or even condescendingly condemn them as imaginary. 

Unless we are introspective, our worldview usually stays out of view. Yet it invisibly shapes our every view, including our view of religion. A materialistic worldview makes us view religious rituals as tools for material gains such as prestige in a religious society or pious credits for future worldly benefits. 

As long as we are governed by a materialistic worldview, we can’t pursue life’s spiritual side. Even if we somehow desire to become spiritual and try to abstain from anti-spiritual sensuality, we still see such sensuality as immensely, irresistibly enjoyable – and, sooner or later, relapse into it. 

How can we challenge our materialistic worldview? By studying and applying the Gita. 

The Gita’s cogent philosophical analysis exposes materialism’s inadequacies and fallacies. And its recommended process of bhakti-yoga gives us access to the serenity and sweetness of the supreme spiritual reality, Krishna, thereby making the spiritual experientially real. With such philosophical conviction and personal realization, our worldview gradually changes, consciously and subconsciously, from material to spiritual. We start seeing everything in terms of its spiritual potential, that is, its connection with Krishna. 

With such a Krishna-centered worldview and view, we become absorbed in Krishna – steadily, increasingly, joyfully. 

 

Think it over:

  • How does a materialistic worldview shape our view of religious rituals?
  • How does a materialistic worldview sabotage us spiritually?
  • How can we change our worldview from material to spiritual?

 

***

16.08 They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.


To know more about this verse, please click on the image
Explanation of article:

Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save”