Awareness Means Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
In ordinary usage, awareness refers to being conscious of one's immediate surroundings or facts. However, in the spiritual science taught by Śrīla Prabhupāda, awareness has a profound ontological significance. It is the awakening of the soul to its eternal nature. As stated simply in the teachings, "Awareness means Kṛṣṇa consciousness." Without this connection to the Absolute Truth, any other form of knowledge is simply a covering of ignorance.
The Awakening of the Self
The first step in developing awareness is the realization of ahaṁ brahmāsmi—"I am not this body; I am spirit soul." Most of humanity is unaware of this fundamental fact, acting under the illusion that the body is the self. True awareness brings the understanding that the body is temporary, while the soul is eternal and full of knowledge.
- Every person is actually Brahman, spirit soul. We are not actually the body. Awareness of aham brahmasmi ("I am Brahman") is actual self-realization. According to Vedic culture, one must understand that he is Brahman, not the body.
- The false ego created by material contact is then gradually vanquished, and this dismantling of false egoism causes liberation from all material designations and renewed awareness of our relationship with the Absolute Truth. This is called liberation in life.
- This body is neither eternal nor blissful nor all-awareness. Therefore this body is different from God's body.
- When Arjuna at last comes to complete awareness, he accepts, "Krsna, You are param brahma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Then Arjuna surrendered, as Krsna advised - sarva-dharman parityajya.
A Hierarchy of Awareness
Vedic society classifies individuals not by birth, but by their level of awareness. The brāhmaṇa is considered the head of society because he is aware of the Absolute Truth. As awareness diminishes through the modes of passion and ignorance, one is classified as a kṣatriya, vaiśya, or śūdra.
- The first-class position (brahmana) is one who is aware of the Absolute Truth, he is in the goodness. Less awareness is the ksatriya, or in the modes of passion. Less awareness is the vaisyas. And the sudra, they are in in the darkness, unawareness.
- The essential, essence also is there, but it is a question of awareness and not awareness. One who knows, he is brahmana; one who does not know, he is krpana.
- Budha means one who is very intelligent, one who is in awareness of everything.
- The foolish mundaners are unable to come to an awareness of the immeasurable difficulties that confront them in pursuance of their foolish mundane activities.
Leadership and Guidance
Because the general population is often in darkness, leaders and spiritual masters must be situated in full awareness. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that a guru is one who is fully aware of how to navigate the laws of nature to save others from the cycle of birth and death.
- Good leadership means you must learn how to lead people. If the srestha, the leader, is ideal, then others will follow. But if the leader is not ideal, if he is not in the awareness of things, then people will be misguided.
- Anyone who takes care of his subordinate, he is guru. The first charge is that you should not become a guru unless you are completely in awareness how to save your dependent from the path of birth and death.
- Guru is completely in awareness of all the Vedic knowledge. That is guru.
- He meets a bona fide spiritual master, and, by the grace of the spiritual master, he can receive the seed of Krsna consciousness. That is his inner urge - Where can I get this association? Where can I get this awareness.
How to Revive Awareness
This spiritual awareness is not an artificial imposition; it is the dormant love for Godhead existing within everyone. It is revived through the process of hearing and chanting. Just as pouring water on the root of a tree satisfies the whole tree, acting in awareness of Kṛṣṇa satisfies the self and the world.
- According to His (Caitanya's) method, if people are simply given a chance to hear about Krsna, certainly they will gradually develop their dormant awareness, or love of Godhead. Sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya.
- One who is not in awareness of the laws of nature, they commit this mistake. We can say that pouring water on the leaves is also pouring water on the tree.
- Krsna consciousness is an excellent medicine. Unless one comes to awareness of Krsna, the habits he forms in association with the three modes of material nature will continue, and he will not be able to change them.
- Simply surrendering at the lotus feet is the cause of all a devotee's enlightenment and awareness.
Conclusion
To be without Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to be unconscious. The material body is neither eternal nor blissful, nor is it all-awareness. Therefore, the goal of human life is to transcend the bodily concept and attain full awareness of Kṛṣṇa. When one surrenders to the Lord with this clear consciousness, they achieve the perfection of 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 Awareness. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.