Ending Animalistic Life to Begin Spiritual Life

Human life is distinct from animal life because of the capacity for spiritual inquiry. However, if a human being remains absorbed solely in the demands of the body—eating, sleeping, mating, and defending—they are living an "animalistic life." Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the beginning of spiritual life requires a conscious decision to stop these animalistic pursuits and strive for the eternal reality of the soul.

Beyond the Bodily Concept

The fundamental difference between a materialist and a spiritualist is their identification. Animals are fully engrossed in the bodily concept of life, unable to conceive of anything beyond their immediate senses. Spiritual life begins when a human being breaks this illusion and understands, "I am not this body; I am a spirit soul." Without this basic education, one remains an animal.

• Spiritual life begins when a person understands that he is not the body. In the material world, all our connections - whether social or political or in the field of eating, sleeping, defending, and mating - are due only to the material body.
• This is the beginning of spiritual life, to distinguish between the soul and the body. One who does not understand that there is soul, there is no spiritual education, because he is animal.

Stopping the Animalistic Struggle

The material world is a place of hard struggle for survival, similar to the jungle. Kṛṣṇa consciousness offers a way out. When the scriptures advise one to "stop working," it does not mean to become inert, but to stop working like an animal for temporary sense gratification. One must redirect their energy from maintaining the body to realizing the self.

• Kṛṣṇa, when (He) says "Stop work," means stop working like animals, but not to stop working like Kṛṣṇa conscious people are doing—not to stop chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Stop your animalistic life and begin your spiritual life.
• Don't try to elevate yourself materially. That will not make you happy. Just try to get out of these material clutches and begin your spiritual life. That will make you happy.

Nivrtti-marga: The Path of Cessation

There are two paths in life: pravṛtti-mārga (the path of sense enjoyment) and nivṛtti-mārga (the path of renunciation). Spiritual life is synonymous with nivṛtti-mārga. It begins when one develops a distaste for the repetitive and ultimately frustrating nature of material pleasure. As long as one is fascinated by the body's demands, the spiritual journey has not truly commenced.

• Nivrtti-marga means stop material way of life; begin spiritual way of life and come to Godhead, Krsna, back to home, back to Godhead.
• Why are we receiving different bodies? Because we have different tendencies for sense gratification. We actually have to come to detest sense gratification before our spiritual life begins. This is made possible through bhakti.

Exiting the Cycle of Wandering

The soul in material existence wanders up and down the planetary systems, taking birth as everything from a demigod to a dog. This aimless wandering continues until one meets a devotee and receives the seed of spiritual knowledge. The decision to surrender to Kṛṣṇa marks the end of this animalistic wandering and the beginning of a focused spiritual life.

• Maya has given this vehicle, anywhere wandering, up and down, sometimes demigod, sometimes dog. This is going on. And in this wandering process, if he gets in touch with a devotee, then his real spiritual life begins.
• Our movement is that beginning of spiritual life is to surrender. If there is no surrendering, then it is no advance. If that thing is lacking, there is no beginning even, what to speak of advancement.

Conclusion

To begin spiritual life is the most significant decision a living entity can make. It requires the courage to reject the superficial goals of modern society—which are merely polished versions of animal activities—and to accept the higher purpose of self-realization. By stopping the animalistic drive for sense gratification and surrendering to the instructions of the spiritual master, one steps onto the path of eternal life.

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 Beginning of Spiritual Life. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.