Sac-cid-ānanda Means Eternal Blissful Life of Knowledge
The constitutional position of the soul is described in Vedic literature as sac-cid-ānanda—eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. However, through contact with material nature, the living entity creates a false identity based on the temporary body, thereby subjecting itself to the miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease. This article examines Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings on the human form of life as specifically designed to realize this original nature and return to the spiritual world.
The Nature of Spiritual Existence
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that actual life is distinct from the bodily concept; it is a spiritual existence known as the *brahma-bhūta* stage. While the material body is temporary and ignorant, the spiritual form is sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ, possessing an eternal and blissful nature. Realizing this distinction is the first step toward reclaiming one's constitutional position.
- Actual life is spiritual existence, or brahma-bhuta existence, where life is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge.
- Actually, spiritual body means eternal life of bliss and knowledge. This body which we are possessing now, material body, it is neither eternal, nor blissful, nor full of knowledge.
- Ananda-maya is the blissful life of knowledge and eternity. As it is said in the Vedanta-sutra, ananda-mayo 'bhyasat.
- We are sac-cid-ananda-vigraha (Bs. 5.1), eternal, blissful and full of knowledge, and part and parcel of the Supreme.
Urgent Mission of Human Life
The human form of life is not meant for animalistic propensities or temporary material improvements, but for solving the problem of repeated birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that true survival is not merely maintaining the body, but achieving a state where one no longer dies—an eternal life of knowledge and bliss. It is the duty of every intelligent person to utilize this life to secure their spiritual future.
- Every human being should try to understand how the spirit soul can be happy and where he can attain an eternal, blissful life of knowledge. Human beings are meant to study these subject matters, not to be absorbed in caring for the temporary body.
- Survival does not mean that one should die; survival means that one should not die, but should enjoy an everlastingly blissful life of knowledge. This is survival. The Krsna consciousness movement is meant to make every person fit for survival.
- We have to prepare for eternal life, blissful life, and life full of knowledge. If we do not do that, then our this human form of life is missing, is misused.
Process of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
To attain this eternal state, one must engage in bhakti-yoga, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which clears the heart of material contamination. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that this is not dry theory or negation of life, but a positive engagement that purifies one's consciousness, allowing one's natural spiritual form to manifest like the moon appearing from behind clouds.
- The bhakti-yoga process directly elevates the soul to the spiritual planets, where life is eternally blissful and full of knowledge; therefore bhakti-yoga is considered to be the greatest of all yoga systems.
- After dark, the moon comes out just like a line, then it increases, & one night it becomes full. Similarly, as your heart becomes cleansed of the material dirty things, your real form, eternity blissful life of knowledge, becomes visible, just like moon.
- Negation is no good. You must have some positive gain. So this Krsna consciousness movement is negation of the materialistic way of life and regain the blissful eternal life of spiritual understanding. So simply negation is no gain.
Returning to the Spiritual World
The perfection of existence is to return home, back to Godhead, specifically to the Vaikuṇṭha planets or Goloka Vṛndāvana. In that supreme abode, life is free from anxiety and fear, and the liberated soul engages in direct service to the Lord in their eternal spiritual body. This transfer to the spiritual world is the ultimate goal of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
- Go back to home, back to Godhead, where we get eternal, blissful life of knowledge. This is the sum and substance of Krsna consciousness movement.
- Everything is present in Vaikunthaloka. There we can have an eternal, blissful life full of knowledge (sac-cid-ananda). It is not compulsory for us to rot in this material world.
- Unless one is KC, nobody can escape the cycle of birth and death. Nobody can. This is the only process if you want to stop. After giving up this body. You get immediately transferred to the spiritual world, & you get your eternal, blissful knowledge life.
Conclusion
The teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda clarify that the inherent nature of every living being is sac-cid-ānanda—eternal, blissful, and full of knowledge. This state is not a temporary mental adjustment but a factual reality experienced in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. By taking to the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can cease the struggle for existence in the material world and return to their original, constitutional position of serving the Supreme Lord in complete happiness and awareness.
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 Blissful Life of Knowledge. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.