Attaining Eternal Transcendental Bliss
The human experience is characterized by a constant struggle to avoid misery and find happiness. Yet, despite all advancements, material life remains temporary and fraught with suffering. Śrīla Prabhupāda offers a solution to this existential dilemma by pointing to the nature of the Supreme Lord and the soul itself. The ultimate goal of human life is not to adjust material conditions but to attain a state of sac-cid-ānanda—eternal life, full knowledge, and bliss.
Nature of Kṛṣṇa
God is not merely a concept or a force; He is a person with a specific transcendental form. This form is described as sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. Sat means eternal, cit means full of knowledge, and ānanda means full of bliss. Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all pleasure, and His body is never subject to the deterioration found in the material world.
- In so many ways He (Krsna) is acting just like an ordinary man, but actually His body is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha-eternal bliss and knowledge absolute. This is confirmed in the Vedic language also (sac-cid-ananda-rupaya krsnaya).
- Ananda-cin-maya-rasa means that His (Krsna's) body is a transcendental form of eternal bliss and knowledge. Krsna is always surrounded by different potencies, and therefore He is perfect and beautiful.
- O my Lord, I do not see a form superior to Your present form of eternal bliss and knowledge. In Your impersonal Brahman effulgence in the spiritual sky, there is no occasional change and no deterioration of internal potency.
Condition of Soul
As a part and parcel of the Supreme, the living entity shares the same qualitative nature as Kṛṣṇa. However, due to the influence of māyā, this original nature is covered. Instead of experiencing eternal bliss, the conditioned soul identifies with the temporary body and undergoes birth, death, old age, and disease.
- Instead of having eternal, blissful, knowledgeable life, we have got this body which is non-eternal, non-permanent and always miserable in condition, and not blissful. Always miserable and always in ignorance.
- It is the misfortune of the living entity, certainly not without reason, that the influence of the material energy acts on his pure consciousness and eternal bliss.
- I'm simply transmigrating from one body to another. If this is stopped now, now if I get in my next body my eternal life, eternal knowledge and eternal bliss, why I shall not accept this.
Superiority of Devotional Service
There are various spiritual paths, such as jñāna-yoga and aṣṭāṅga-yoga, which aim for liberation or mystic perfection. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the happiness derived from these paths is insignificant compared to the "ocean of eternal bliss" found in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The devotee does not merely merge into the light; they engage in a dynamic, loving relationship with the Lord.
- Krsna consciousness, devotional service to Krsna, is the ocean of eternal bliss. In comparison to this eternal bliss, the so-called happiness of society, friendship and love is simply useless and insignificant.
- When the jiva performs all his activities under the direction of the Lord's internal, spiritual energy, he enjoys eternal transcendental bliss, which is a billion times greater than the happiness of Brahman realization.
- Rama means the real bliss, and all the yogis, either dhyana-yogi or a jnana-yogi or a bhakta-yogi - there are three kinds of yogis - everyone tries to enjoy that eternal bliss, and that is real pleasure. Therefore Rama.
Reviving Original State
This state of eternal bliss is not something to be artificially acquired; it is the soul's birthright. By chanting the holy names and engaging the senses in the service of the Lord, the covering of ignorance is removed. One then realizes that material happiness is a phantom and that true satisfaction lies in serving Kṛṣṇa.
- When the living entity is enlightened by the grace of the Supreme Lord or His pure devotee and becomes inclined to revive his original state of loving service, he is on the most auspicious platform of eternal bliss and knowledge.
- The transcendental form of eternal bliss and knowledge can be experienced by our original spiritual senses, which can be revived by chanting of the holy mantras, or transcendental sound representations.
- A devotee always merges in transcendental happiness, and therefore he has no experience of material distresses. This transcendental happiness is called eternal bliss.
Conclusion
Life is meant for more than survival; it is meant for perfection. By utilizing the human form of life to connect with the source of all pleasure, one can transcend the miseries of material existence and attain the supreme goal: eternal, blissful life in the association 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 Eternal Bliss. 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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