Attaining an Eternal Body

The most fundamental contradiction in the life of a living entity is the acceptance of a temporary body by an eternal soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living being is eternal, yet due to the desire to enjoy the material world, they are forced to accept bodies that grow old and die. The purpose of human life is to solve this dilemma by inquiring about and ultimately attaining an eternal body.

Necessary Inquiry

Animals cannot inquire about the nature of their existence, but human beings can. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that intelligence is meant to question the status quo of birth and death. The Vedānta-sūtra advises athāto brahma jijñāsā—now is the time to inquire into the Absolute Truth. This includes asking why an eternal being is subjected to a temporary existence.

• I do not die even after the annihilation of this body. Then where is my eternal body? This question should be raised by the human form of life. Athato brahma jijnasa.
• If I am eternal, whether it is possible to get an eternal body? Or eternal happiness? That is the problem of human society.
• That soul is eternal, but the body is not eternal. For our activity we must have a body; without a body, without sense organs, there is no activity. But people are not inquiring whether it is possible to have an eternal body.

Cultivating Next Body

We are the architects of our future. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as one can degrade oneself to the animal species, one can also elevate oneself to the spiritual platform. The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is essentially the cultivation of a spiritual body, one that is sac-cid-ānanda—eternal, full of knowledge, and blissful.

• We can cultivate the next body like cats and dog, and we can cultivate such body as eternal, blissful knowledge. Therefore the best intelligent person will try to get next body full of blissfulness, knowledge, and eternity.
• Even if you are going to get body next life, you must have a better body. Or the best thing is that you must have an eternal body. If such solution is there, why the human society should neglect it? That is their foolishness.
• As soon as you get your eternal body, which is already there within this temporary body, then you also become blissful and full of knowledge. That is oneness, one in quality.

Nature of Spiritual Body

The material body is a source of misery and disease, described as "not sat" (not eternal). In contrast, the eternal body is qualitatively the same as God's body. It is composed of spiritual energy and allows for uninterrupted participation in the loving affairs of the Lord.

• If we can transcend this interruption, we can take part in loving affairs similar to those of Krsna and Radharani. Our aim should therefore be to go back home, back to Krsna, because since Krsna is eternal, we shall there receive an eternal body.
• The chemical composition of God's body and the eternal spiritual body of the living entity is the same-spiritual.
• If you want to reach to the ultimate goal of life, where only blissful life, sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, eternal body of knowledge and bliss, then you have to become sura.

Returning to Source

The highest perfection of life is to return to the abode of Kṛṣṇa. Upon entering the Vaikuṇṭha planets or Goloka Vṛndāvana, the devotee receives a body that matches the nature of that realm—eternal and full of bliss.

• The Vaikuntha planets are forms of eternity, bliss and knowledge, and therefore the devotees of the Lord, who are admitted into the abode of the Lord, also get bodies of eternity, bliss and knowledge. As such there is no difference between one and another.
• The highest perfection of life is to come back to Me, and you get the spiritual body, eternal body, blissful life, full of pleasure.

Conclusion

It is the greatest foolishness to neglect the opportunity for eternal life. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges humanity to become serious about this subject matter. By turning away from the temporary allurements of the material world and focusing on Kṛṣṇa, one can reclaim their birthright: an eternal body free from all suffering.

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 Body. 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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