Kṛṣṇa Consciousness - Becoming Fully Aware of Everything
The distinction between the Supreme Lord and the minute living entity is often defined by the scope of their awareness. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is abhijñaḥ, or fully aware of everything, directly and indirectly. The living entity in the material world, however, is covered by ignorance. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the perfection of life lies in overcoming this ignorance and becoming budha—one who is wise and fully aware of the truth through the medium of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Supreme Awareness
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam begins by defining the Absolute Truth as the source of all emanations who is conscious and fully aware of His creation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as a creator knows the details of his construction, the Supreme Lord knows every nook and corner of the universe.
- That Absolute Truth is aware of everything, directly and indirectly, of all this creation. In this way, if you step-by-step study, it is not very difficult so far the word meanings are concerned, but it is a question of realization.
- The Supreme Lord, the creator of this cosmic manifestation, knows every nook and corner of His creation. Although He is the cause of creation, there is no cause for His appearance. He is fully aware of everything.
- As the Supersoul of all living entities, You are aware of everything, and therefore You are certainly equal toward everyone. Nonetheless, You favor Your devotees.
- When a living being is perfect, he is aware of everything that happens, and since the Supreme Person is all-perfect, it is quite natural that He knows everything in all detail.
The Meaning of Budha
In the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes the enlightened soul as budha, or one who is learned. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines budha as one who is "aware of everything." This awareness is not simply information gathering but the specific realization that Kṛṣṇa is the source of everything.
- Budha means one who is aware of everything, jnani. Budha bhava-samanvitah (BG 10.8). Such budha, intelligent person, will not accept these base qualities - of SB 5.6.5.
- When one becomes budha - budha means well aware of everything - then he understands Krsna is the source of everything. He's the Supreme.
- Jnanis means the wise men or persons who are very much aware of everything. So they can understand the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth.
Awareness Through Devotion
A common question is how a finite living entity can know everything. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by knowing the root, Kṛṣṇa, one automatically knows the branches and twigs. Therefore, a pure devotee, by the grace of the Lord, becomes aware of everything required for spiritual perfection.
- Simply by understanding Krsna you become well aware of everything, this yoga system.
- When the devotee sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his meditation, or when he sees the Lord personally, face to face, he becomes aware of everything within this universe. Indeed, nothing is unknown to him.
- If one thinks always in this way (that he is engaged in a particular type of occupation by Hrsikesa), in full Krsna consciousness, then, by the grace of the Lord, he becomes fully aware of everything. That is the perfection of life.
- Sri Suta Gosvami said: O great sage Saunaka, after hearing Maharaja Pariksit speak respectfully and briefly on topics essential to hear, Sukadeva Gosvami, who was well aware of everything, praised his endeavor with great pleasure and replied.
The Limitation of the Conditioned Soul
In contrast to the Supreme Lord and the liberated souls, the conditioned living entity is strictly limited. Bound by material nature and a temporary body, the ordinary soul cannot claim full knowledge. This limitation is the source of suffering, which can only be rectified by connecting with the source of all knowledge.
- We see, we act, under some conditions offered by the material nature. So we are not fully aware of everything; neither our body is eternal; neither we are blissful. This body is the source of so many diseases.
- One must give up his illusory conception and thus become fully aware of everything.
- He must be aware of everything. That means life. That means life. Now the question is how He became experienced.
Conclusion
To remain in ignorance is the status of an animal, or "ass" (gādhā). The human form of life is meant for becoming budha, or fully aware. This perfection is achieved not by mental speculation, which is always limited, but by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. As one advances in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the fog of māyā dissipates, and the devotee becomes aware of reality as it is.
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 Aware of Everything. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.