Awakening the Sleeping Consciousness of a Conditioned Soul
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the fundamental problem of material existence is not the environment itself, but the polluted, sleeping consciousness of the conditioned soul. By understanding our fallen state and accepting the guidance of the Lord and His devotees, we can awaken from this illusion and return to our original, joyful nature.
The Forgetting and the Fall
The origin of material suffering begins when the pure jīva forgets its eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that out of a false desire to control, the soul identifies with temporary material energy, leading to a deep slumber of ignorance and false designations such as nationalism.
- Out of desire to lord it over, the jiva soul forgets that he is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss and identifies with the material energy. So it is the consciousness of the conditioned soul that is affected.
- No one is really interested in the real values of life. The sleeping condition, called kala-sarpa (the time factor), keeps the conditioned soul in a state of ignorance, and therefore pure consciousness is lost.
- Under the influence of material nature, the conditioned soul becomes absorbed in material consciousness. In this consciousness, whatever is done under the influence of the material energy is accepted by the conditioned soul as self-actuated.
- The so-called leaders of men in the modern age are attached by national consciousness, but they do not know that such false consciousness is also another designation of the materially conditioned soul.
Wandering in Material Existence
Once entangled in false identification, the living entity is forced to act out various desires, generating karma that binds it to the cycle of saṁsāra. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this state as being lost in a dense forest, devoid of true knowledge and forced to take on endless temporary bodies.
- The conditioned soul thus situated must take birth in different species and work in various types of consciousness, thus creating new bodies. This continued material life is called samsara.
- These various activities are described in Bhagavad-gita 2.41 as bahu-sakha hy anantas ca buddhayo 'vyavasayinam. The conditioned soul is bewildered into various activities for want of pure consciousness.
- Mixed consciousness puts a conditioned soul in the position of managing the affairs of this creation. The demigods are entrusted leaders of the conditioned souls.
- The conditioned soul in the material forest is sometimes swallowed by a python or crushed. At such a time he is left lying in the forest like a dead person, devoid of consciousness and knowledge.
The Process of Awakening
The sleeping soul cannot easily wake itself up; it requires external help. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the bona fide spiritual master, pure devotees, and Vedic literatures are specifically manifested in this world to revive our lost spiritual awareness.
- The role of the bona fide Spiritual Master is to lead the conditioned souls out of forgetfulness and back into pure consciousness of serving the Lord in transcendental loving service.
- The devotees are representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and to elevate the conditioned souls to their original consciousness, they travel all over the universes to enlighten the conditioned souls.
- The Vedas are made just to revive the forgotten consciousness of the conditioned souls, and any literature not meant for reviving God consciousness is rejected at once by the narayana-para devotees.
- The purification of the conditioned soul necessitates purification of his consciousness.
The Supreme Friend Within
Even while the soul wanders in forgetfulness, it is never truly alone. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that Kṛṣṇa, situated as the Paramātmā in the heart, acts as the eternal friend, waiting to supply the necessary intelligence as soon as the soul desires to awaken.
- The only friend is Krsna. One should try to raise the consciousness of the conditioned soul to the platform of understanding that Krsna is his actual friend.
- When the Supersoul is situated in the heart of the conditioned soul, the requisite mind is manifested in the conditioned soul, and he becomes conscious of his occupation as one is conscious of his duty after waking up from slumber.
- When his (the living entity's) consciousness, however, is changed into Krsna consciousness, he can immediately understand how Krsna is trying to assist the conditioned souls to get out of the material entanglement.
- If one makes friendship with Krsna, one will never be cheated, and he will get all help needed. Arousing this consciousness of the conditioned soul is the greatest service, not posing oneself as a great friend of another living entity.
Conclusion
The tragedy of the conditioned soul lies in its polluted, sleeping consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully explains that by desiring to enjoy matter, the eternal spirit soul falls into the terrifying cycle of birth and death, adopting false identities. Yet, there is immense hope. Through the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa in the form of the Paramātmā, and through the tireless preaching of His pure devotees and the spiritual master, the conditioned soul is given every opportunity to wake up. By purifying one's awareness and engaging in devotional service, the soul revives its eternal, blissful relationship 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 Consciousness of a Conditioned Soul. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.