Escaping the Awkward Position of Ignorance

In the material world, ignorance is not merely a lack of information but a profound state of spiritual blindness. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this as an "awkward position" where the soul is trapped in the bodily conception of life, unable to see its eternal relationship with the Supreme. To escape this darkness, one must recognize the precarious nature of modern civilization and take shelter of the transcendental process of yoga and the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.

The Darkness of the Bodily Conception

The fundamental symptom of being in the position of ignorance is identifying the self with the material body. Śrīla Prabhupāda often compares this to the mentality of a dog or a child; a dog cannot understand that it is a spirit soul, and a child is born into a state of unknowing. If a human being grows old without transcending this "dog mentality," they remain in a state of darkness and are technically classified as a śūdra, regardless of their material achievements.

• A child is born into ignorance, and if as he grows older he remains under the bodily conception of life, he lives in darkness. His position is that of a sudra.
• You do not know your real position. That is ignorance. And that is dog mentality. The dog cannot understand that he is not body; he is something else.
• The mundane qualities do not allow a living entity to understand his real position. The qualities of both ignorance and passion strongly bind one to the illusory bodily conception of the self.
• We do not know what is the position of my real self. That we do not know. This is called ignorance. That instruction is given in the Bhagavad-gita in the beginning: na hanyate hanyamane sarire.

The Precarious State of Modern Civilization

Śrīla Prabhupāda offers a stark critique of modern society, noting that there are no schools or institutions dedicated to teaching the science of the soul. Consequently, people are kept in a state of ignorance while being falsely proud of their "advancement." This results in a precarious situation where "blind leaders" guide "blind followers," leading everyone toward further material entanglement and away from the sober consideration of life's true purpose.

• At the present moment, our position is very precarious. We are in the darkness, the ignorance, and so many other things, corollaries to these things.
• People are kept in ignorance. There is no school, no college, no institution to give instructions about this science. This is the position of modern civilization.
• The basic principle of knowledge is ignorance. Andha. The man who is leading, he is blind. So how he can lead? This is the position.
• If you admit (that we are all moving in the darkness, ignorance), then you will get knowledge. But that is not the position. You are falsely proud that you are very advanced in knowledge.
• You keep yourself always in goodness. Then your position is all right. Otherwise, it is very risky. But these people, the Western people, they do not do that. They keep themselves in the modes of ignorance. That is very risky civilization.

Mistaking Misery for Happiness

A primary characteristic of ignorance is the inability to distinguish between actual happiness and temporary relief from pain. In this state, the living entity accepts an awkward, suffering condition because they are unaware of their normal, healthy position as a servant of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that material happiness is actually just another form of misery, but in the darkness of ignorance, we lack the discrimination to understand this reality.

• The so-called temporary happiness of the world is also misery, but in ignorance we cannot understand this. That is the actual position.
• They cannot understand that by serving Krsna, we become healthy or in our normal position. This is called ignorance. Somebody is trying to forget Him, somebody is trying to become equal with Him. This business is going on.
• The impetus for activities is generated from the self, but such activities become illusory due to ignorance of the real position of the self.
• People are not very serious. They're so much in ignorance: "All right, let it happen, whatever may happen. We may enjoy life." This is not very good position. At least in human form of life, one should be very sober, considerate (of) what is happening.

The Path of Elevation and Transcendence

To move beyond the awkward position of ignorance, one must first be sober and considerate. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we must gradually change our position from ignorance to passion and ultimately to the mode of goodness. However, even the mode of goodness is part of the material world. To reach the perfectional stage, one must transcend all three modes. This elevation is made possible by the process of yoga and the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which restores the soul to its original, illuminated position.

• Gradually, one can change his position from ignorance to goodness, or from passion to goodness. The conclusion is that blind faith in a particular mode of nature cannot help a person become elevated to the perfectional stage.
• As a matter of fact, we will see that we are no longer in ignorance or in passion, but are situated in the mode of goodness. What is that position? We will find ourselves joyful in every circumstance of life. We will never feel morose.
• Krsna is advising Arjuna that either goodness or passion or ignorance, after all, they are activities of this material world. You have to come above, transcend this position of goodness also. So goodness is not qualification for spiritual advancement.
• When situated in Krsna consciousness, one is no longer in the darkness of ignorance, and when freed from all such darkness, one is situated in his original position.
• When one is put into an awkward position because of ignorance, the process by which one can be freed from this entanglement is called yoga. This is also called liberation.

The Necessity of a Bona Fide Guru

Ignorance is a state that cannot be cured by intellectual speculation or "blind faith." Śrīla Prabhupāda insists that anyone who wishes to understand transcendental subjects (brahma-jijñāsā) must approach a qualified guru. A bona fide spiritual master is the light that pierces the darkness, enabling the living entity to see the real self and the Supreme Lord, thus providing the only reliable way out of the awkward entanglement of material ignorance.

• One who wants to transcend this position of ignorance and wants to know the transcendental subject, means spiritual subject, brahma-jijnasa, he requires a guru, not any person, other person.
• The cursing of Jaya and Vijaya is here repented. Now the Kumaras are thinking in terms of their position in the modes of passion and ignorance, and they are prepared to accept any kind of punishment from the Lord.
• Because they (mode of goodness, passion or ignorance) are produced by Krsna, their position is in Him, but He is not in them, for Krsna Himself is transcendental to the three modes.

Conclusion

Escaping the awkward position of ignorance is the most urgent task for a human being. Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it clear that remaining in the bodily conception of life is a "risky" and animalistic state that leads only to further suffering. By admitting our current lack of knowledge and approaching a bona fide spiritual master, we can begin the journey of elevation through the modes of nature. Ultimately, by establishing ourselves in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we leave the darkness behind forever and reclaim our eternal, joyful position as servants of the Supreme Lord.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Position of Ignorance. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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