In the Spiritual World Everything Is Conscious and Alive
The nature of the spiritual world is often difficult for the conditioned soul to conceive because our experience is limited to dead matter and temporary forms. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes the spiritual realm as a place where everything is conscious and alive. In that absolute atmosphere, there are no inanimate objects; every aspect of the environment is composed of pure spirit and is fully aware, blissful, and eternal.
Everything is Conscious
In the material world, we distinguish between living entities and dead matter (like stones or wood). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that in the spiritual world, this distinction vanishes. Because everything is made of the superior spiritual energy, even the trees, water, and land possess full consciousness and personality.
- In the material world inanimate objects are not conscious, but in the spiritual world this is not so. There a table is conscious, the land is conscious, the trees are conscious - everything is conscious.
- In the spiritual world everything is full of knowledge, and therefore everything in the transcendental world, the land, the water, the tree, the mountain, the river, the man, the animal, the bird - everything - is of the same quality, namely cetana.
- Everything in the material world is dull, but in the spiritual world everything is alive.
Eternal, Blissful, and Cognizant
The material world is dominated by the three modes of nature, leading to birth, death, old age, and disease. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that in the spiritual world, these modes are completely absent. Consequently, everything there exists in a state of sac-cid-ānanda—eternity, knowledge, and bliss.
- In the material world there are birth, death, old age and disease, but in the spiritual world there are no such things because everything is eternal.
- In the spiritual world, because of the complete absence of the qualitative modes, everything is eternal, blissful and cognizant. Everything can speak, everything can move, everything can hear, and everything can see in fully blessed existence for eternity.
- In the material world we have no experience of eternity, bliss and fullness of knowledge. But in the spiritual world, because of the complete absence of the qualitative modes, everything is eternal, blissful and cognizant.
Self-Illuminated and Complete
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes another unique feature of the spiritual atmosphere: it does not require external aid for maintenance or visibility. While we depend on the sun and electricity, the spiritual planets are self-luminous, reflecting the independence and completeness of the Absolute Truth.
- In Bhagavad-gita it is said that in the spiritual world there is no need of sun, moon or electricity. This indicates that all the planets there are self-illuminated, self-sufficient and independent; everything there is complete.
- The sun is being illumined by the brahma-jyotir, or the bright effulgence of the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is no need for sun, moon or electricity because there everything is illuminated by the brahma-jyotir.
- In the spiritual world there is no need of artificial, mechanical arrangement. Everything is living force. That is the difference.
The Absolute Nature
Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights one more point regarding the absolute nature of the spiritual world: unlike the relative material world, which is full of dualities and distinctions, everything there is absolute. While relationships exist, they are based on a platform of oneness where no one is exploited, and everything is spiritually identical to the Lord's internal potency.
- In the spiritual world there is no difference between the servant and the master. Here, of course, there is distinction, but in the absolute world everything is one.
- In this world there is a difference between the material body and the spiritual soul, but in the spiritual world everything is spiritual and there are no such differences.
- There are qualities in the spiritual world, but they are different from the material qualities because everything there is eternal, unlimited and pure.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the spiritual world is the realm of "living force." It is not a void or a place of inactivity, but a dynamic reality where every particle is fully conscious and dedicated to the service of the Supreme Lord. By understanding that everything in the spiritual world is alive, eternal, and free from anxiety, we can appreciate the immense value of returning to our original home.
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 In the Spiritual World, Everything Is. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.