“If there is no Krishna consciousness, any kind of activity, be it philanthropic, political or social, simply causes karma-bandhana, bondage to material work.”
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This is from the Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.1.14
[This chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Manus, Administrators of the Universe,” gives a list of ancient dynastic histories, and the highly placed persons responsible for universal administration. One such personality, Svayambhuva Manu, speaks today’s verse.]
TRANSLATION
Therefore, to enable people to reach the stage of activities that are not tinged by fruitive results, great saints first engage people in fruitive activities, for unless one begins by performing activities as recommended in the shastras[scriptures], one cannot reach the stage of liberation, or activities that produce no reactions.
PURPORT (excerpt):
As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12):
naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jñanam alam nirañjanam
“Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the infallible [God].” Jñanis recommend that one adopt naiskarmya by not doing anything but simply meditating and thinking of Brahman, but this is impossible unless one realizes Parabrahman, Krishna.
If there is no Krishna consciousness, any kind of activity, be it philanthropic, political or social, simply causes karma-bandhana, bondage to material work.
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