The Science of Spiritual Absorption
Consciousness is the natural symptom of the soul, and it must be absorbed in some object. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the quality of our life—both present and future—is determined by the object of our mental absorption. While material absorption leads to a repetitive cycle of birth and death, spiritual absorption in the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the direct science for achieving liberation and transcendental peace.
Danger of Material Absorption
In the material world, the living entity is generally absorbed in the bodily conception of life, falsely identifying with the temporary physical form and its relations. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that as long as the mind is absorbed in karma and fruitive activities, one is subjected to material bondage in different bodies. This absorption in ignorance causes the soul to forget its original spiritual identity and instead focus on temporary designations such as nation, family, and creed. Like a deer lost in the musical sounds of a hunter, a person absorbed in material acquiring forgets the nearing day of death and perpetually runs around the forest of material existence.
- As long as the mind is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.
- Absorbed in acquiring a variety of necessities, he forgets everything and perpetually runs around the forest of material existence.
- When one's mind is absorbed in the material conception, he thinks that he belongs to a particular nation, family, country or creed. These are all called upadhis, designations, and one has to become freed from them.
- The living entity in the bodily conception of life is absorbed in the body, which is a combination of the physical elements, the five senses for gathering knowledge, and the five senses of action, along with the mind.
Final Thought and Transmigration
The most critical moment for any living entity is the time of death, as the mind’s absorption at that moment dictates the next destination. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites the example of King Bharata, whose mind was absorbed in a deer at the time of death, causing him to take birth as a deer. A materialist who is absorbed in thinking of his wife and children is never prepared to give up his body, while a devotee prepares for death by absorbing the mind in Kṛṣṇa. Nature’s law ensures that upon quitting the body, the soul attains the particular state of being in which it was absorbed during the final moments.
- At the time of death a materialist thinks of his wife and children. He is absorbed in thinking of how they will live and who will take care of them after he leaves. Consequently he is never prepared to give up his body.
- Actually the mind of the King was absorbed in the body of the deer, and consequently - like those bereft of Krsna consciousness - he left the world, the deer, and his material body and acquired the body of a deer.
- He (Jada Bharata) knew that although formerly he was King Bharata, he had been transferred to the body of a deer because of his absorption in thinking of a deer at the time of his death.
- Upon which a person meditates at the time of death, quitting his body absorbed in the thought thereof, that particular thing he attains after death.
Samādhi: The Perfection of Absorption
The term samādhi refers to the state where the mind and senses are fully absorbed in a particular object. For the devotee, this means the absorption of all activities in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that real samādhi is not a periodic event but a twenty-four-hour state of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is achieved when the intelligence is absorbed in the personal service of the Lord. For those who are too deeply absorbed in the bodily concept, various yoga systems are recommended to help control the mind, but for the devotee, the absorption in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes and the chanting of His glories provides the most perfect meditation.
- Samadhi (trance) means absorption of all the activities of the senses in a particular object, and the gopis indicate that the pastimes of Krsna are the perfection of all meditation and samadhi.
- Samadhi means to be absorbed in some particular type of thought. That is called samadhi. So if you are fully Krsna conscious, that is samadhi. Twenty-four hours samadhi.
- Absorption of intelligence in the personal service of Krsna and full consciousness of Krsna always are the path of self-realization and liberation.
- The Bhagavad-gita confirms in the Sixth Chapter (47), stating that anyone absorbed in such thought (of Krsna) is the best of all yogis. Such transcendental absorption is known as samadhi.
Purification Through Transcendental Focus
The path to spiritual peace requires the purification of the mind from material attachments, fear, and anger. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by becoming fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and taking refuge in Him, many persons in the past became purified through knowledge and attained transcendental love. This transformation occurs when the mind's focus is transferred from material objects, like newspapers and novels, to the Vedic literatures and the glories of the Lord. When the mind is thus absorbed in the personal service of the Lord, it is no longer attracted to mundane activities, and the devotee attains a state of fearless self-realization.
- Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
- There are so many literatures which fill our thoughts with the material energy - newspapers, novels, etc. Our thinking, which is now absorbed in these literatures, must be transferred to the Vedic literatures.
- As long as one is freed from this material conception, he becomes brahma-bhuta (SB 4.30.20), or self-realized, and immediately becomes fearless.
- A Krsna conscious person should not be absorbed in material things, for his only business is the devotional service of the Lord. If one is engaged in this way, Krsna will certainly bestow His mercy.
Exemplars of Spiritual Absorption
Great souls and even some unexpected figures show the power of absorption. Advaita Acarya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls, while Dhruva Mahārāja was so deeply absorbed in meditation on Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet that the Lord Himself appeared before him. Even the sages like Sukadeva Gosvami, who were originally absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman, became attracted to Kṛṣṇa's transcendental pastimes upon hearing them. Furthermore, Śrīla Prabhupāda mentions that even a yogī like Lord Siva, dressed in saffron and absorbed in trance, appearing as the foremost of sages, is always absorbed in the transcendental understanding of Vasudeva.
- Advaita Acarya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls of the entire world. "The entire world is full of nondevotees," He thought. "How will they be delivered."
- Dhruva Maharaja was always absorbed in thinking of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. His heart was full with Krsna.
- Although Sukadeva & the four Kumaras were always absorbed in the thought of impersonal Brahman & were thus Brahmavadis, they were nonetheless attracted by the transcendental pastimes & qualities of Krsna.
- Lord Siva was dressed in saffron garments and absorbed in trance, thus appearing to be the foremost of all sages.
Conclusion
Absorption is the natural function of the mind, and the science of spiritual life consists of shifting this absorption from the temporary to the eternal. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that as long as we remain absorbed in material lordship and the bodily concept, we will continue to face fear, disunity, and the cycle of birth and death. However, by engaging in the practical activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, such as hearing about the Lord's form and pastimes and rendering personal service, our consciousness becomes purified. This spiritual absorption allows the devotee to transcend material dualities and achieve the highest perfection of life. Whether one is a householder or a renunciant, the key is to remain constantly absorbed in thought of Kṛṣṇa. By doing so, one becomes a perfect yogī and is guaranteed to return to the eternal, blissful realm of Goloka Vṛndāvana, where one lives in perpetual communion with the Supreme Lord.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Absorption. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.