In the Spiritual World There Is No Struggle for Existence
The phrase "struggle for existence" succinctly describes the condition of the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living entity here must fight to survive against the forces of nature, time, and other living beings. He contrasts this with the spiritual world, which is the direct opposite of this condition. In that eternal realm, the anxieties of survival, the fatigue of labor, and the bitterness of competition are entirely absent, replaced by an atmosphere of eternal, blissful service.
Absence of Birth and Death
The root of the struggle in this world is the temporary nature of the body. We fight because we are threatened by death. In the spiritual world, however, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the body is eternal. There is no question of birth, death, old age, or disease, and thus the fundamental fear that drives material existence is removed.
- The phrase birth after birth refers to the material world because in the spiritual world there is no birth, death, old age or disease.
- Without becoming a devotee of the Lord, one cannot perfect one's human life. The perfection of human life is to be elevated to the spiritual world, where there is no birth, no death, no disease and no old age.
- The words nijam padam are significant. The living entity, being part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has the birthright to a position in Vaikunthaloka, or the spiritual world, where there is no anxiety.
No Fatigue or Hard Labor
In the material world, work is a necessity for survival, and it is followed by exhaustion. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that in the spiritual world, activities are performed out of love, not necessity. There is no limit to the activity because there is no fatigue. The concept of "working to live" does not exist there.
- In the material world you have to work to get your necessities. In the spiritual world there is no need of working.
- Of course, so long we have got this material body, we have to take rest, but this rest is also not required, because in the spiritual world there is no such fatigue. Everyone is always active. So that is perfectional stage.
- In the material world we want to minimize our activities and take rest more, but in the spiritual world, there is no rest and there is no limit of activities.
Freedom from Duality and Envy
The struggle for existence is often a struggle against others. This competition arises from the dualities of desire and hate. In the spiritual world, because everyone is centered on the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that there is no envy and no disparity. Everyone is satisfied in their position of service.
- In the spiritual world there is no struggle for existence because everyone there exists eternally. There is no disparity because everyone wants to render service to the Supreme Lord, and no one wants to imitate the Lord in becoming the beneficiary.
- All living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate. This is an explanation of how the living entity falls down into this material world. In the spiritual world there is no duality, nor is there hate.
- The pure devotee is the noblest of all, and he has no feelings of animosity towards anyone. Duality due to animosity is a creation of this material world. There is no such thing in the spiritual world, which is the absolute reality.
No Need for Artificial Aid
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes one more point regarding the self-sufficiency of the spiritual world: the struggle to maintain our environment—to light our cities and power our machines—is absent. The spiritual world is self-sufficient. Illumination comes from the internal potency of the Lord, not from external sources like the sun or electricity.
- The Lord's spiritual effulgence, is covered by the mahat-tattva, the material elements; therefore in this material world we require the assistance of sun, moon, electricity, etc., for light. But in the spiritual world there is no need of such things.
- In the spiritual world there is no need of making mechanical arrangement, because everything is spirit. There is no need of mechanical arrangement. That we cannot accommodate with our poor brain at the present moment.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the spiritual world is the only place where true peace exists. In the material world, we are constantly engaged in a battle for survival, driven by necessity and fear. However, by understanding the nature of the Vaikuṇṭha planets—where there is no birth, death, fatigue, or envy—we can appreciate the ultimate goal of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement: to transfer the living entity from this place of struggle to the realm of eternal ease and happiness.
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 There Is No.... We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.