Natural Position - The Eternal Servitor of the Supreme
The fundamental cause of all suffering in the material world is a crisis of identity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when we forget our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and attempt to artificially act as independent controllers, we fall into illusion. True peace and happiness are found only by returning to our natural position.
The Eternal Constitutional Position
To understand our purpose, we must first understand our origin. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that because every living entity is an inseparable part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, our constitutional nature is to act as His eternal, dependent servitor, just as a part of a machine serves the whole.
- The natural position of the living entity is to serve the Lord in a transcendental loving attitude. When the living entity wants to become Krsna Himself or imitate Krsna, he falls down into the material world.
- Each and every living entity that be is Krsna's part and parcel, and as such, each and every living entity is His eternal, transcendental servitor. The natural position of one who is part and parcel is to render service to the complete whole.
- The finger and the hand are meant to act in the interests of the whole body; as soon as I want the hand to come here, it comes, and as soon as I want the finger to play on the drum, it plays. This is the natural position.
- Jivera svarupa haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa' (CC Madhya 20.108). Our natural position is to be dependent on God.
The Illusion of Independence
Material existence is essentially a state of rebellion against our own nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that when we try to usurp the position of the supreme controller, we do not become free; instead, we become severely entangled as the obedient servants of the illusory energy and our own senses.
- There is no material. When you forget Krsna, that is material. Just like madness. Madness is not our natural position, but when your brain is deranged, then it is madness.
- You have forgotten that (Radha-Krsna consciousness) is your natural position. You have forgotten the service of Radha-Krsna, therefore you have become the servant of maya, your senses.
- To be obedient to the wishes of the Supreme Lord is the natural position of every living entity. But due only to past misdeeds, a living being becomes averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord and suffers all the miseries of material existence.
- We are created as being controlled. So instead of aspiring to become controller, if we remain controlled, that is our natural position.
The Process of Purification
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not a sectarian process of converting from one faith to another. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that bhakti-yoga is a universal cleansing process designed to strip away the dirt of material desires and restore the living entity to its original, uncontaminated state.
- The bhakti process purifies the living entity of all unnatural attractions. When one is purified he is attracted by Krsna and begins to serve Krsna instead of serving maya. This is his natural position.
- We want to revive our natural position, uncovered position. Now we are covered by dust, by dirt, by corroding materials. So we have to cleanse this.
- When the service is ultimately aimed at the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the senses are in their natural position.
- It (Krsna consciousness movement) is not artificial proselytizing: "You are Christian; now become a Hindu." It is not like that. This movement is actually bringing people back to their natural position - part and parcel of God.
The Joy of Eternal Service
Once the living entity is firmly situated in its constitutional role, all anxieties cease. By completely absorbing oneself in the loving service of the Lord, one attains the supreme goal of human life—eternal, blissful existence in one's pure, natural position.
- A transcendentally situated person has no sense desires resulting from petty materialism; rather, he remains always happy in his natural position of eternally serving the Supreme Lord.
- The real purpose of life is to make contact with the Lord and be engaged in His service. That is the natural position of living entities.
- We must teach people to absorb themselves always in the service of the Lord because that position is their natural position. One who is always serving the Lord is to be considered already liberated.
- There are two important words in this verse (CC Madhya 8.89): bhakti (devotional service) and amrtatva (eternal life). The aim of human life is to attain the natural position of eternal life. This eternal life can be achieved only by devotional service.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the miseries of material life are entirely artificial, stemming from our rebellious desire to abandon our natural constitutional position. The soul is eternally designed to act as a subordinate part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as a severed finger cannot bring nourishment to itself without serving the complete body, the living entity cannot find true happiness by attempting to become an independent controller or master. Such an attempt is comparable to a state of madness, where the soul forgets Kṛṣṇa and helplessly serves the dictates of māyā. The science of bhakti-yoga is the perfect remedy for this madness. It is not an artificial imposition, but a profound cleansing process that removes the corroding dust of material desires, reviving the soul's innate attraction to the Lord. By joyfully engaging one's purified senses in the service of the Supreme, the sincere devotee immediately transcends material anxiety and is elevated to the liberated platform, eternally flourishing in their beautiful, original, and supremely natural position.
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 Position. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.