Eternal Constitutional Position

The fundamental question of "Who am I?" is answered with precision in the Vedic literature. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living entity has an eternal constitutional position, or svarūpa. Unlike the temporary bodily designations of "man," "woman," "American," or "Indian," this identity is immutable. The soul is, by nature, an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Realizing and acting upon this truth is the essence of self-realization.

Verdict of Lord Caitanya

The essence of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy is encapsulated in the instruction given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Sanātana Gosvāmī. When asked about the real identity of the living being, the Lord replied with a definitive axiom: jīvera 'svarūpa' haya—kṛṣṇera 'nitya-dāsa'. Śrīla Prabhupāda elaborates that just as sweetness is the intrinsic nature of sugar and heat is the intrinsic nature of fire, servitude is the intrinsic nature of the soul. This position is not forced but is the natural, joyful state of the living entity.

• As described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera 'svarupa' haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa': (CC Madhya 20.108) the constitutional position of the living entity is that he is the eternal servant of Krsna.
• Actually, the constitutional position of the living entities are that he is eternally servant of God.
• Original means eternal servant of God, Krsna. That is our constitutional position. We are eternal servant of God, Krsna.

Cause of Entrapment

If the soul is eternally a servant of God, why is it currently suffering in a material body? Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the cause as forgetfulness. When the living entity, exercising their minute independence, rejects the service of the Lord and attempts to become the master, they are immediately captured by the illusory energy, māyā. In this unnatural state, the soul is forced to serve the dictates of the senses, the mind, and the three modes of material nature, all while falsely thinking themselves to be free.

• Materialistic life means forgetting one's constitutional position as the eternal servant of Krsna, and this forgetfulness is especially enhanced in the grhastha-asrama.
• As soon as the living entity forgets his real, constitutional position of eternal servitorship to the Lord and wants instead to enjoy himself by sense gratification, he is captured by maya.
• Although he (the embodied soul) is constitutionally eternal, blissful and cognizant, due to the littleness of his existence he forgets his constitutional position of service to the Lord and is thus entrapped by nescience.

True Liberation

Many people misconceive liberation (mukti) as a state of becoming void or merging into the impersonal brahma-jyotir. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that true liberation is positive and active. It means to be reinstated in one's original, constitutional position. Since the soul is by nature active, it cannot remain idle. Real liberation implies engaging that inherent activity in its proper channel: the loving service of Kṛṣṇa. This is the definition of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

• Liberation means to be situated in one's constitutional position as the eternal servitor of Krsna (Krsna consciousness).
• Every living entity is by constitutional position an eternal servant of Krsna. As soon as one engages in the service of Lord Vasudeva, he attains his normal constitutional position. This position is called the liberated stage.
• He who is actually elevated in Krsna consciousness does not care for the different processes. He simply directly engages himself in activities of Krsna consciousness and thereby factually attains his constitutional position as eternal servitor of Lord Krsna.

Dependence on Lord

The living entity is categorized as the marginal potency of the Lord, simultaneously one with and different from Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because the soul is minute, it cannot be happy independently. Just as a spark loses its brilliance when separated from the fire, or a hand becomes useless when severed from the body, the soul loses its happiness and potency when separated from Kṛṣṇa. Our constitutional position is one of eternal subordination and dependence on the Supreme.

• The living entity cannot be happy independant of the cooperation of the Supreme Lord because the eternal constitutional position of the living entity is to become subordinate to the desires of the Lord.
• It is the living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire.

Conclusion

The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is an educational institution meant to revive this lost memory. By practicing devotional service, one cleanses the heart of material contamination and realizes that they are not the master of the world, but the eternal servant of the Supreme. This realization brings an end to the futile struggle for existence and establishes the soul in its natural state of eternal bliss and knowledge.

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 Eternal Constitutional Position. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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