Elevated to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness - The Purpose of Human Life
The material world is not meant to be a permanent residence for the spirit soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the entire cosmic manifestation and the rare human form of life are specifically designed to give conditioned souls the opportunity to become elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and return back to Godhead.
The Sole Purpose of Existence
Human intelligence is wasted if it is restricted to the basic animal propensities of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the only legitimate business of human life—and the true purpose behind the creation of the material world—is to elevate oneself to the perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- The Lord creates the material world to give the conditioned souls a chance to elevate themselves to the higher platform of Krsna consciousness.
- Human life is meant for being elevated to Krsna consciousness, if he doesn't take to that, then his higher intelligence will be simply misused for animal propensities, and it is very difficult to tame him.
- Human consciousness should be used for elevation to Krsna consciousness.
- Your business is to elevate yourself to perfect Krsna consciousness and nothing more. If you deviate from this law, if you don't accept this principle, if you want to enjoy more, then you have to suffer more. There is no question of forgetting.
A Simple and Universal Process
The path to spiritual perfection is not barred by rigid material prerequisites. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that through the simple, authorized process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, anyone—regardless of their social background, gender, or past deeds—can be instantly elevated to the highest transcendental platform.
- Krsna says that anyone can come to Krsna consciousness and thus elevated to the highest perfection of life.
- Sages like the four Kumaras, as well as fools and birds, can engage in the Lord's transcendental service. By being favored with Krsna's causeless mercy, anyone and everyone can be elevated to the platform of Krsna consciousness.
- Women have been compared to sudras and vaisyas (striyo vaisyas tatha sudrah (BG 9.32)). On the spiritual platform, however, when one is elevated to the platform of Krsna consciousness, whether one is a man, woman, sudra or whatever, everyone is equal.
- The acarya of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is called Namacarya Haridasa Thakura. From his personal example we can understand that chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and becoming highly elevated in Krsna consciousness is very simple.
The Compassion of the Preachers
True advancement in spiritual life generates an intense desire to help others. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that highly elevated devotees deliberately descend to the middle platform of preaching to show compassion, dedicating their lives to elevating the ignorant masses to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- A devotee shows compassion to those poor souls who are wanting in spiritual knowledge by enlightening them in order to elevate them to Krsna consciousness. That is one of the duties of a devotee.
- If the confidential devotees do not take up the task of elevating everyone to Krsna consciousness, then who will do it.
- There are two classes of Vaisnavas - the bhajananandis and gosthy-anandis. The bhajananandis worship the Lord only for their own personal benefit, but the gosthy-anandis try to elevate all others to Krsna consciousness so that they may be saved.
- The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord's service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.
The Mission of the Movement
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a practical, revolutionary force in the modern world. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is not a passing fad, but a bona fide endeavor inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu specifically to elevate the most degraded individuals into exalted saints.
- The Krsna consciousness movement is not a fad. It is a bona fide movement intended to promote the welfare of all conditioned souls by trying to elevate everyone to the platform of Krsna consciousness.
- The practical effect of our spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world is that now the most degraded debauchees are becoming the most elevated saints. This is only one Indian's humble service to the world.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, this Krsna consciousness movement, is trying to elevate sudras to the brahmana platform so that they will know the real goal of life.
- Since Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself, inaugurated the Krsna consciousness movement, without His mercy one cannot be elevated to the transcendental platform of Krsna consciousness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully establishes that being elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the absolute, non-negotiable purpose of human existence. The Supreme Lord mercifully manifests the material cosmos precisely to afford the conditioned souls the opportunity to rectify their rebellious mentality and return to their eternal, spiritual home. This supreme elevation is not restricted to a privileged few; through the extraordinarily simple and potent process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, even the most degraded members of society can be instantly raised to the transcendental platform, where all mundane distinctions of caste, gender, and nationality are dissolved. Recognizing this supreme welfare, the most advanced, compassionate devotees of the Lord—the goṣṭhy-ānandīs—dedicate their lives to preaching. They purposefully descend to the middle platform to actively rescue innocent souls from the miseries of material life. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, empowered by the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, stands as the practical manifestation of this divine compassion. By uncompromisingly pushing forward this movement, it successfully transforms fallen debauchees into exalted saints, proving that the only true business of human life is to become perfectly elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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 Elevated to Krsna Consciousness. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.