Without Kṛṣṇa Consciousness the Whole Material World Is Dark
The material world appears bright with plans, industries, relationships, nations, and ambitions, yet Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that its real condition is darkness when Kṛṣṇa is forgotten. The conditioned soul tries to make permanent arrangements in a temporary place and struggles under false ego, desire, envy, and bodily identification. At the same time, the material world is not independent or accidental; it is a manifestation of the Lord's energies and moves under His supervision. When this world is seen in relation to Kṛṣṇa, it can be properly understood and used in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Material World Is Dark and Temporary
Material existence is described as darkness because it hides the living being's relationship with Kṛṣṇa. The whole material world is only a portion of creation, and even this earth is an insignificant fragment within countless universes. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that people try to make permanent settlement here, but disruption, conflict, and death continually expose the temporary nature of their plans. Without spiritual vision, the conditioned soul mistakes this passing world for a secure home.
- Imagine what insignificant this vasudha (planet) in comparison to the whole material world. There are millions of universes, and in each and every universe there are millions and trillions of the stars and planets.
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the material world is only a part of the whole creation and that this earth is only a fragment of the whole material world.
- Krsna passed over all these planets and reached the covering of the universe. This covering is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam as great darkness. The material world as a whole is described as dark.
- The whole material world is going on, durasaya. They are trying to make permanent settlement. But there is always disruption, fight.
False Ego Creates the Illusion of I and Mine
The root of material attachment is the false conception that the body is the self and that things connected with the body belong to oneself. From this illusion arise nationalism, possessiveness, pride, and the endless effort to enjoy separately from Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the whole material world is working on this basis of "I" and "mine." Chanting the holy name frees the living being from these misconceptions by restoring awareness of one's true spiritual identity.
- The whole material world is going on on the basis of this false conception that "I am this body." And because I am this body, therefore "I am American," "I am Indian." So this is false ego.
- The whole material world is working on the basis of "I" and "mine." This is the root of attraction to the material world.
- The whole materialistic world is moving under such false egoism of "I" and "mine," but the factual effect of chanting the holy name is to become free from such misconceptions.
- You should not be falsely proud. The whole material world is falsely proud. Their whole program is to defy God. And our program is to declare war against these rascals. Everyone is trying to defy God.
Desire and Sex Attraction Keep Souls Bound
A powerful current running through material life is the attraction between male and female. This attraction expands into family attachment, social prestige, hard work, and repeated acceptance of material bodies. The analysis is not meant for hatred of relationships but for sober understanding of how attachment binds the soul. When desire is not purified by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it becomes the force that keeps the whole material world moving in repeated bondage.
- Actually this whole material world is running on this attraction between man and woman.
- The sex drive is so strong in the living entities that the whole material world is running on sex attraction only, and it is due to sex attraction that one remains in the material world and is obliged to accept different types of bodies.
- The whole material world is going on: the man is attracted by woman, the woman is attracted by man. And seeking this attraction, when they are united, their attachment for this material world become more and more.
- This whole material world is an attachment of male and female. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam, sex impulse, attachment. Tayor mitho hrdaya-granthim ahuh. And when they are married, when they are united, then it becomes a hard knot in the heart.
Kṛṣṇa's Energies Move the Whole Material World
Although conditioned souls imagine that the material world runs automatically, the Vedic conclusion is that everything moves under divine direction. The modes of nature create, maintain, and dissolve the material manifestation, but those modes are also part of the Lord's energy. Śrīla Prabhupāda rejects the idea that the world is accidental, explaining that there is a controlling hand behind the whole arrangement. When the material world is understood as Kṛṣṇa's energy, it can be used in His service rather than exploited for false independence.
- By the quality of goodness this whole material world is maintained, and by the quality of passion the whole material world is created, and by the quality of ignorance the whole material world is again annihilated.
- The superior energy, however, is the real identity of the living being, and it is because of that energy that the whole material world functions.
- The whole material world is working by pushing the button. Don't think it is going on automatically or accidentally. These are all rascaldom. There is hand in everywhere.
- They (the demons) do not believe in the words of Krsna in Bhagavad-gita: mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram. "Under My direction the whole material world is moving."
Conclusion
The whole material world is dark when it is seen apart from Kṛṣṇa, because such vision traps the living being in false ego, desire, exploitation, and temporary plans. Its darkness does not mean that the world is useless; rather, it is misunderstood when treated as independent from the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the material manifestation is Kṛṣṇa's energy and moves under His direction. By chanting the holy name and using everything in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the soul can become free from the false ideas of "I" and "mine" and see the world in its proper spiritual relation.
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 Whole Material World. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.