Natural Life - The Revival of Spiritual Consciousness
Modern society constantly seeks peace through technological advancement, yet the result is only increased anxiety. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the only way to achieve true happiness is to abandon the artificial complexities of material civilization and revive our original, natural life of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Artificial Civilization
The current global civilization is built on the false premise that humanity can be happy without God. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this godless existence is inherently unnatural; by rejecting our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, we cover our true knowledge and invite endless suffering.
- Because we are developed consciousness, we do not keep in natural life. We accept so many unnatural things. Therefore our knowledge becomes covered by unnatural material nature.
- If you take to natural life and live peacefully and take to Krsna consciousness, that is your real life. And if you simply increase botheration and problems, then you'll have to suffer. That is the position of modern civilization.
- These godless persons, when they're actually in danger, they think of God. I have seen it. Automatically they think of God. So this godlessness is not our natural life. To love God, that is our natural life.
- No child used to eat meat from the very birth. It was milk. So this is all artificial, the so-called conventions of human society. Natural life does not allow all these things.
Simplicity and Svadharma
To regain our spiritual equilibrium, we must first simplify our material existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises his followers to minimize their dependence on machines and luxurious amenities, and instead live responsibly according to the principles of Vedic civilization and their prescribed duties.
- As far as possible try to adjust to a natural way of life free from dependence on machines.
- As far as you are able to adjust to a natural way of life, do it immediately.
- Make it just suitable to your minimum needs. Not to make it too much luxurious as generally Europeans and Americans are accustomed. Better to live there without modern amenities. But to live a natural healthy life for executing Krishna Consciousness.
- The first step is given there, that sva-dharmacaranam. Sva-dharmacaranam saktya. As far as possible, be situated in your natural life. Natural life means there are three modes of material nature.
The Original Constitutional Position
True natural life is not a matter of geography; it is a state of consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that because we are eternal parts and parcels of God, our only true, original nature is to serve Him, and any attempt to act independently is an artificial rebellion.
- Artificially, if one wants to become something else which he is not, then it is simply botheration. There is no happiness. An artificial life is not happiness. Natural life is happiness. So naturally we are servant of Krsna.
- Best intelligence is to accept Supreme Lord, Krsna, as the predominator and be predominated by Him. That is our natural life. One who does not know, he falls down.
- If God is great, and we are part and parcel of the Supreme, so our natural sequence, natural life, is to render service. That is our nature.
- Religion means the natural sequence of life.
The Perfection of Spiritual Existence
When the soul is finally freed from all material contamination, it enters the highest realm of pure, natural existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that this completely purified state of loving service to Kṛṣṇa is the eternal reality of the spiritual sky.
- When he (the living entity) is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned, and when he is Krsna conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in his real and natural state of life.
- When our energy is utilized in that way (in Krsna's service), our energy is purified from the contamination of material inebrieties, and thus we become fit for our original natural life of service to the Lord.
- When the senses are purified and it is used for God's purpose, that is natural life. That is natural life.
- The best thing is to revive our original Krsna consciousness and be engaged in the service of the Lord. That is natural life and that is possible in the spiritual sky or the Goloka Vrndavana.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically dismantles the modern illusions surrounding the concept of a "natural life." The hyper-industrialized, godless civilization of the West is entirely artificial, generating endless anxiety, "botheration," and suffering because it ignores the fundamental spiritual needs of the living entity. True natural life is rooted in the eternal constitutional position of the soul. Because every living entity is an inseparable part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, our original, unchangeable nature is to act as His loving servants. By adopting the principles of Vedic civilization—simplifying our material needs, reducing our dependence on machines, and faithfully executing our prescribed duties (svadharma)—we immediately step out of the artificial matrix of material illusion. Ultimately, when this Kṛṣṇa consciousness is fully matured and the senses are completely purified by being engaged in the Lord's service, the sincere soul escapes the miseries of the conditioned world and returns to the supreme, blissful, and perfectly natural life of the eternal spiritual sky.
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 Natural Life. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.