A Torch of Knowledge - The Path to Become Self-realized
In material life, every living entity is absorbed in the thought that they are a physical body, leading to a life of constant fear and anxiety. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the only solution to this suffering is to become self-realized. This is not a difficult task if one follows the instructions given in sacred texts like the Bhagavad-gītā. By shifting one's focus from material identification to spiritual service, a person can immediately experience a state of jubilation and peace.
Torch of Knowledge and Divine Mercy
The path to spiritual awakening is often obscured by the darkness of ignorance. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that no amount of academic education or intelligent discovery can allow a person to become self-realized on their own. Instead, it is the Supreme Lord who, being seated within the heart, eradicates ignorance for those who take His lotus feet seriously. This "torch of knowledge" is a special mercy that allows a devotee to understand everything properly and progress steadily toward their spiritual destination.
- If one takes seriously the lotus feet of Krsna, who is seated within one's heart, the God eradicates all ignorance. By the torch of knowledge, one immediately understands everything properly by the special mercy of the Supreme God and becomes self-realized.
- My devotee actually becomes self-realized by My unlimited causeless mercy.
- In the Mundaka Upanisad (3.2.3) it is said: one cannot become self-realized simply by having an academic education, by presenting lectures in an erudite way (pravacanena labhyah), or by being an intelligent scientist who discovers many wonderful things.
Symptoms of a Self-realized Soul
A clear distinction exists between those who identify with the body and those who have attained spiritual vision. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the primary symptoms for one who manages to become self-realized are fearlessness and jubilation. While the materialist is always full of anxiety—lamenting for what is lost and hankering for what is not possessed—the self-realized soul is situated in the brahma-bhūta stage. In this stage, the false ego is removed, and actual vision of life becomes perceivable because the senses have been purified.
- As you become self-realized, the symptoms become that you become jolly and free of all anxieties. So long you are not self-realized, you are full of anxieties.
- As long as one is absorbed in the thought that he is this material body, he is fearful, and as soon as one is freed from this material conception, he becomes brahma-bhuta (SB 4.30.20), or self-realized, and immediately becomes fearless.
- One becomes atma-drk, or self-realized. When the false ego of identifying the body with the self is removed, actual vision of life is perceivable. The senses also become purified.
The Method: Chanting, Service, and Guidance
Spiritual perfection is achieved through practical engagement rather than dry speculation. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights two essential methods for the tongue: chanting the holy name and honoring prasādam. These simple acts allow a person to become self-realized and God-realized. Furthermore, he emphasizes that this process cannot be performed independently; it requires the help of a spiritual master. By spreading these principles, human society can be raised from a third-class status to a platform where everyone has the opportunity to become self-realized.
- The tongue engagement is you chant the holy name of the Lord, and you take the prasadam, remnants of foodstuff given to the Lord. Then you become self-realized, God realized. By these two method.
- Without spiritual master's help, nobody can become self-realized. Our Vaisnava philosophy does not allow that you shall become self-realized by your own endeavor.
- As soon as you begin chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, you gradually become self-realized, aham brahmasmi, simply by chanting.
Conclusion
To become self-realized is to escape the "socati-kanksati" cycle of material grief and desire. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by accepting the Bhagavad-gītā as it is and practicing the science of bhakti-yoga, we become transcendental to the three destinations of material nature. This state of being is characterized by an unadulterated bliss that is protected by the Lord's spiritual energy. By purifying our hearts and following the orders of the spiritual master and śāstra, we dissolve the material conception of life and finally see ourselves as we truly are: eternal servants of Kṛṣṇa.
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 Becoming Self-realized. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.