Why are people not following the Vedic culture even though most of them realize it's worth it?

BY : Jahnu Das

Why are people not following the Vedic culture even though most of them realize it's worth it?

In Kali-yuga, most people don’t realize the value of the Vedic culture. Most people are chasing after material enjoyment, material education, and material status etc. These are the signs of the times. If people realized the futility of material life, they wouldn’t be so engrossed in it.

Maharaja Pariksit (speaking to Kali) says.

If the personality of Kali, irreligion, is allowed to act as a man-god or an executive head, certainly irreligious principles like greed, falsehood, robbery, incivility, treachery, misfortune, cheating, quarrel and vanity will abound. —SB 1.17.32

Therefore, O friend of irreligion, (Kali) you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. —SB 1.17.33

In all sacrificial ceremonies, although sometimes a demigod is worshiped, the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is worshiped because He is the Supersoul of everyone, and exists both inside and outside like the air. Thus it is He only who awards all welfare to the worshiper. —SB 1.17.34

Sri Suta Gosvami says:

The personality of Kali, thus being ordered by Maharaja Pariksit, began to tremble in fear. Seeing the King before him like Yamaraja, ready to kill him, Kali spoke to the King as follows. —SB 1.17.35

O Your Majesty, though I may live anywhere and everywhere under your order, I shall but see you with bow and arrows wherever I look. —SB 1.17.36

Therefore, O chief among the protectors of religion, please fix some place for me where I can live permanently under the protection of your government. —SB 1.17.37

Maharaja Pariksit, thus being petitioned by the personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed. —SB 1.17.38

The personality of Kali asked for something more, and because of his begging, the King gave him permission to live where there is gold because wherever there is gold there is also falsity, intoxication, lust, envy and enmity. —SB 1.17.39

Thus the personality of Kali, by the directions of Maharaja Pariksit, the son of Uttara, was allowed to live in those five places. —SB 1.17.40

Therefore, whoever desires progressive well-being, especially kings, religionists, public leaders, brahmanas and sannyasis, should never come in contact with the four above-mentioned irreligious principles. —SB 1.17.41

Sukadeva Gosvami says:

In the Kali-yuga, objects, places and even individual personalities are all polluted. The almighty Personality of Godhead, however, can remove all such contamination from the life of one who fixes the Lord within his mind.--SB 12.3.45

If a person hears about, glorifies, meditates upon, worships or simply offers great respect to the Supreme Lord, who is situated within the heart, the Lord will remove from his mind the contamination accumulated during many thousands of lifetimes.--SB 12.3.46

Just as fire applied to gold removes any discoloration caused by traces of other metals, Lord Vishnu within the heart purifies the minds of the yogis.--SB 12.3.47

By one's engaging in the processes of demigod worship, austerities, breath control, compassion, bathing in holy places, strict vows, charity and chanting of various mantras, one's mind cannot attain the same absolute purification as that achieved when the unlimited Personality of Godhead appears within one's heart.--SB 12.3.48

Therefore, O King, endeavor with all your might to fix the Supreme Lord Kesava within your heart. Maintain this concentration upon the Lord, and at the time of death you will certainly attain the supreme destination.--SB 12.3.49

My dear King, the Personality of Godhead is the ultimate controller. He is the Supreme Soul and the supreme shelter of all beings. When meditated upon by those about to die, He reveals to them their own eternal spiritual identity.--SB 12.3.50

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.--SB 12.3.51

Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.--SB 12.3.52