http://truth.prabhupada.org.uk/prabhupada-predicted-the-collapse-of-civilization
Prabhupada: (break) ...zation will collapse very soon, all over the world. It will collapse. Either you may bring this ism or that ism, this civilization will collapse. People will become mad, being harassed in so many ways. When one is harassed in so many problems, he commits suicide. So that position is coming.
Hamsaduta: Or he starts a war.
Prabhupada: Yes. When the government cannot adjust, they start a war.
(Morning Walk, November 29, 1975, Delhi)
Paramahamsa: In the newspaper yesterday there was an article about New York City. The city government is going bankrupt because they... They have asked the President for 1,500 million dollars in emergency aid. Because of crime and dirtiness and noise, all the rich people are leaving New York, and they can't get any taxes from the poor people. So they don't have money to pay to run the city.
Prabhupada: Yes. I have seen. New York is very dilapidated, many quarters. And especially Second Avenue, those are very dirty. The... On the Fifth Avenue, that Central Park is also very dirty. This civilization will collapse. It cannot be run on. Fourth-class men, I tell. Because it is conducted by the fourth-class men. Ask that gentleman why they are asking. Are they not fourth-class men? They could not manage?
Srutakirti: That man last night admitted. He said, "Now I must leave and do my fourth-class activities."
Prabhupada: Yes, that is fourth class. This is the proof. Fourth-class men administering... Just like misadministration not immediately detected. After some time, when the case is unmanageable, it is detected. Therefore fourth-class men. Simply these Western people, they know how to earn money by hook and crook. So, so long the money is there it is covered, the fourth-class men. And when the money is finished, they are exposed, fourth-class men. They're simply covered by money. No social structure, no spiritual understanding, no character, nothing of the sort.
(Morning Walk,May 14, 1975, Perth)
Ambassador: But now may I ask you while I have the chance? You have had so much to do with bringing the dharma to the West. What is your idea? What is your mission? It seems to me, in many ways there is a transfer of the essential spirit going West, because the interest is there.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Ambassador: And what is left in the East is so often just the materialism imitated from the West among many young people now.
Prabhupada: Where, in the East? Yes.
Ambassador: In the East. So there's been a crossover taking place.
Prabhupada: Hm, yes.
Ambassador: Do you see it like that?
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. In Western countries they are now fed up with this materialistic way of life. And I think it will very soon collapse, the Western way of life. And naturally the next enquiry is spiritual.
Ambassador: Yes, it's already beginning.
Prabhupada: Yes. Athato brahma-jijnasa. The material life means animal life.
Ambassador: Yes.
Prabhupad
