We Are Already Brahman – The Illusion of Becoming Brahman
A common misunderstanding in spiritual circles is the idea that one must practice sadhana to transform from a material being into a spiritual being, or to "become Brahman." Śrīla Prabhupāda corrects this notion with a simple yet profound truth: we are already Brahman. The living entity is eternally spiritual by nature. There is no question of becoming something we already are. The problem is not a lack of spiritual substance, but a lack of memory. We have forgotten our identity and misidentified with the material body. Therefore, the spiritual path is not one of becoming, but of realizing.
Gold Analogy
To illustrate this, Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the analogy of gold. If a piece of gold falls into the mud and becomes covered, it does not turn into mud. It remains gold, but its brilliance is obscured. Similarly, the living entity is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Brahman. Even while covered by the dirt of material existence, our qualitative oneness with God remains intact. We simply need to wash away the dirt of māyā to regain our original status.
- Krsna is Para-brahman; therefore we, being part and parcel, we are also Brahman. Just like particles of gold is also gold. So there is no question of becoming Brahman. Brahman we are already.
- So we are all Brahman; simply we have to understand it. It is not that we are abrahman; by some practice we become Brahman. No. Just like gold is gold, but if it is covered with some dirt, the dirt can be removed and the gold is gold.
- There is no question of becoming Brahman. We have now forgotten. We have forgotten that we are Brahman. We are misidentifying with this body. This is maya.
Last Snare of Māyā
The desire to "become Brahman" can also manifest as a dangerous trap. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that when the conditioned soul is frustrated in their attempts to become a master in the material world—failing to become a rich man, a minister, or a president—they often turn to spiritual life with the same ambition. They think, "Now I shall become God." This desire to merge with the Supreme or to usurp His position is described as the last snare of illusion, a spiritual suicide that kills the potential for loving service.
- That is called maya. That is the last snare of maya. Maya dictates that, "Now we have failed to become minister, to (become) president, and so many other big, big posts. Now you become Brahman." You are already Brahman. Simply you have to realize.
- As soon as this poison will come "Suppress guru and I become Brahman" everything finished. Spiritual life is finished. Gaudiya Matha finished, violated the orders of Guru Maharaja.
- So long one wants to become Brahman, he is ignorant.
Spirit Means Activity
Another misconception is that becoming Brahman implies becoming inactive or void. Philosophers often think that because material activity causes suffering, spiritual perfection must be the cessation of all activity. Śrīla Prabhupāda refutes this, explaining that spirit is dynamic. To become Brahman means to engage the superior energy in superior work. It is not the negation of personality, but the purification of activity from selfishness to service.
- If one becomes Brahman, he must show his activities in Brahman. Spirit is active, and to become Brahman is not to become inactive. Brahman is spirit, and these material bodies are active only because Brahman is within them.
- To become Brahman means to be completely engaged in rendering devotional service to the Lord. Thus the mahatma understands that if service is to be rendered, it is to be to Krsna and no one else. We have so long served our senses; now we should serve Krsna.
- To become Brahman does not mean to become void but to establish ourselves in the superior nature, which means superior energy and superior activities.
Conclusion
The journey of spiritual life is not about fabricating a new identity, but about waking up to our eternal one. We are already Brahman, but currently, we are identifying with the "dirt" of the body. By engaging in devotional service, we wash away this dirt. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the perfection of life is not to become God, but to realize our position as His eternal servants. This realization brings an end to the illusion of becoming and the beginning of the reality of being.
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 Becoming Brahman. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.