Svarūpeṇa Vyavasthitiḥ - Constitutional Position
The most fundamental teaching of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is the understanding of one's constitutional position. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that due to material contact, the living entity has forgotten his original nature and is currently acting under the false impression of being the master of his environment. Real knowledge begins when one realizes that the soul is eternally a subordinate part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, meant to render transcendental loving service.
Defining Liberation (Svarūpeṇa Vyavasthitiḥ)
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that liberation (mukti) is not a mysterious transformation or a loss of individuality. Rather, it is the simple act of being reinstated in one's own constitutional position. Currently, the soul is in a diseased state, identifying with the material body and mind. By following the process of devotional service, one sheds these false designations and becomes situated in the "sound condition" of eternal servitorship.
- A devotee is never controlled by false thoughts. He knows his position. Svarupena vyavasthitih (SB 2.10.6). Mukti, liberation, means to be situated in one's own constitutional position. I am a servant.
- As said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 2.10.6), mukti (liberation) means svarupena vyavasthitih - being situated in one's own constitutional position.
- Mukti, or liberation, means becoming free from the results of fruitive activities. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 2.10.6): muktir hitvanyatha-rupam. Mukti means giving up all other activities and being situated in one's constitutional position.
- Liberation means to be situated in one's constitutional position as an eternal servitor of Krsna (Krsna consciousness).
The Inherent Nature of Service
Service is not a choice but the soul's eternal dharma or constitutional duty. Śrīla Prabhupāda gives the example that just as liquidity is the dharma of water and sweetness is the dharma of sugar, service is the dharma of the soul. We are always serving someone—if not God, then our family, country, or even our domestic animals. Kṛṣṇa consciousness simply redirects this service spirit to the right object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Every living creature is engaging in the service of something else. A living being's constitutional position is to render service, but in maya, or illusion, or the conditional state of existence, the conditioned soul seeks the service of illusion.
- Can anybody say in this meeting that he's not servant of anybody or anything? He must be, because that is his constitutional position. But the difficulty is that by serving our senses, there is no solution of the problem, of the miseries.
- Dharma means that our constitutional position is to serve. But our service being misplaced, we are not happy. Actually, we are serving not any person, but we are serving our different types of desires.
- Our constitutional position is like that. If we do not serve God, we do not agree... We are servant of God, but if we deny that "No, I am not servant," so that means I become servant of maya. Servant I'll have to remain. That is my constitutional position.
The Analogy of the Part and the Whole
To illustrate our relationship with God, Śrīla Prabhupāda often uses the analogy of the part and the whole. Just as a finger finds its purpose and nourishment by serving the entire body, the individual soul finds happiness only by serving Kṛṣṇa. As infinitesimal parts (atomic sparks), we are qualitatively the same as the Supreme Sun but quantitatively different; thus, our natural constitutional position is one of dependence and cooperation.
- The actual fact is that every living being is an individual part and parcel of the Supreme Being, and his constitutional position is subordinate cooperative service.
- It is the living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire.
- Our constitutional position is to render service to Krsna as His part and parcel, and as soon as we refuse to render Him service, maya is immediately there to capture us and say, - Serve me.
- Krsna's constitutional position and the living entity's constitutional position are the same qualitatively. The only difference is that the living entity is eternally an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit.
Independence and Dependence
A common misconception is that liberation means complete independence. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that complete independence for a living entity is actually the realization of one's dependence on Kṛṣṇa. Because we are small, we are constitutionally dependent. Trying to declare independence from God is like a child trying to live without parents—it simply invites danger. True freedom is found in the safety of the Lord's shelter.
- A conditioned soul does not know what complete independence is. Complete independence means situation in one's own constitutional position.
- He is born dependent because part and parcel of God. His constitutional position is dependent. Just like child. A child declares independence. What is the meaning of that independence? Danger. That's all. Simply inviting dangers.
- So long we are under the control of maya, we are dependent. Our constitutional position is dependence, servitude.
Beyond Religious Designations
Understanding one's constitutional position is not a matter of changing from one religion to another, such as Hindu to Christian or vice versa. Faiths can change, but the constitutional nature of the soul is eternal and unchangeable. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the science of reviving this original position, which is universal and open to all living beings regardless of external designations.
- Religion, I have already said, it is a kind of faith. Faith can be changed, but our constitutional position, occupational duty, that cannot be changed. We are eternal servant of Krsna.
- Our principle is not to proselytize from Christian to Hindu or Muhammadan to Hindu. We are teaching simply how to revive his old constitutional position to become servant of Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness movement.
- Your constitutional position as part and parcel of God is never to be changed. You may accept a faith as Christianity or accept a faith, Mohammedanism. That is a mental situation.
Awakening Through Inquiry
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the special prerogative of the human form of life is the ability to inquire into one's constitutional position. Animals cannot ask "Who am I?" or "Why am I suffering?" By approaching a spiritual master, as Sanātana Gosvāmī did with Lord Caitanya, one can be injected with the knowledge required to transcend the material body and revive one's original, joyful consciousness (brahma-bhūta).
- When Sanatana Gosvami submitted to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya, his first question was 'ke ami', 'kene amaya jare tapa-traya'. He wanted to know his constitutional position and why he was suffering from the threefold miseries of material existence.
- The analysis of man is perfect when he is searching after his constitutional position, "What I am? Am I this body? Why I have come to this world?" This inquisitiveness required. That is the special prerogative of human being.
- By chanting the holy name of God gradually your dirty things within the heart will be cleansed and you will see properly your constitutional position and then you will act accordingly and then your life will be happy and prosperous.
- First of all, one should try to understand the constitutional position of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that all human problems arise from a single root cause: ignorance of our constitutional position. By trying to be the enjoyer instead of the enjoyed, we have created a hellish condition on earth. The remedy is to revive our dormant relationship with Kṛṣṇa, accept our position as His eternal servants, and thereby achieve the highest bliss and complete independence from material suffering.
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 Constitutional Position. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.