Material Influences on a Conditioned Soul
The eternal living entity, in its pure state, is an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. However, when the soul chooses to give up this constitutional position, it falls into the material world and becomes heavily conditioned by the Lord's external energy, known as māyā. Śrīla Prabhupāda thoroughly explains that this conditioned state plunges the soul into a deep illusion governed by false ego, mental speculation, and the relentless modes of material nature. By understanding these powerful material influences, the conditioned soul can begin to untangle itself from worldly miseries and reawaken its dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Illusion of Independence and False Ego
Once covered by material nature, the conditioned soul immediately develops a false ego. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that under this powerful influence, the soul completely forgets its dependence on the Supreme Lord and foolishly thinks it is the independent doer of all activities. This deep-rooted material consciousness is the primary cause of the soul's ongoing entanglement in the material world.
- A conditioned soul is absorbed in material existence under the influence of different modes of external energy. Absorbed in the false ego, he thinks that he is doing everything by himself.
- He (living entity) is always dependent on the rules of the Supreme Lord, but by the influence of the external energy the conditioned soul thinks himself independent of the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead.
- 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 Binding Modes of Material Nature
The illusory energy operates through the three modes of material nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance. Every conditioned soul is infected by a specific mixture of these guṇas, which act like invisible ropes forcing the living entity to perform various fruitive activities. As Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, the mode of passion is especially prominent, driving souls to try and lord it over material nature for sense gratification.
- Each of the three divisions of the internal potency - the sandhini, samvit and hladini energies - influences one of the external potencies by which the conditioned souls are conducted. Such influence manifests the three qualitative modes of material nature.
- Every conditioned soul is influenced by a particular mixture of the modes of material nature. The conditioned soul is attracted to certain types of activity which he is forced to perform because he is completely under the influence of material nature.
- Generally, all conditioned souls in the material encagement are influenced by the mode of passion because every one of them is trying to lord it over the material nature to fulfill his individual desire.
Mental Speculation and Ignorance
True spiritual knowledge is completely covered when a soul falls under the dark influence of avidyā, or ignorance. Relying solely on mental speculation and mundane education, the conditioned soul remains bewildered and unable to perceive its real spiritual identity. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that this state of illusion causes one to be overwhelmed by false identification, pride, and material attachments.
- A conditioned soul is under the influence of mental speculation. However great one may be in the estimation of mundane education and learning, he cannot be free from the influence of psychic activities.
- By the influence of darkness, the conditioned soul forgets his relationship with the Supreme Lord and is overwhelmed by attachment, hatred, pride, ignorance and false identification, the five kinds of illusion that cause material bondage.
- The conditioned souls are not originally fools, but by the influence of the avidya function of material nature they are made fools, and thus they are unable to utilize knowledge in the proper channel.
The Entanglement of Material Miseries
The inevitable result of living under these material influences is continuous suffering. Seduced by the temporary pleasures of the body, the soul is tossed around by the waves of fruitive activities, meeting and losing family members like straws in a moving stream. Ultimately, this disease of material conditioning can only be cured by seeking the pure, unadulterated association of the Supreme Lord.
- Influenced by fruitive activity, he (the conditioned soul) comes together with his relatives, fathers, sons and grandfathers, exactly as straws gather together in a moving stream. In a moment the straws are thrown everywhere, and they lose contact.
- The material miseries are without factual existence for the soul. Yet as long as the conditioned soul sees the body as meant for sense enjoyment, he cannot get out of the entanglement of material miseries, being influenced by Your (Krsna's) external energy.
- As the contamination of the germs of a particular disease can influence a weaker person, similarly the influence of material nature, or illusory energy, can act on the weaker, or conditioned, soul but not on the liberated soul.
Conclusion
The precarious position of the conditioned soul is a direct result of turning away from the Supreme Lord and falling under the strict control of material nature. Governed by false ego, mental speculation, and the three guṇas, the living entity helplessly suffers the miseries of temporary material existence. However, by understanding these influences and reviving one's dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the soul can shed this illusory conditioning and return to its original, liberated status.
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 Influences on 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.