Definitions of Krishna Consciousness

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Some days ago you had requested definitions of KC. I hope this small

contribution helps.

 

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1.The Vedic process is to promote the conditioned soul gradually from the

mode of ignorance to the mode of passion, and from the mode of passion to

the mode of goodness. In the mode of goodness there is sufficient light for

understanding things as they are. For example, from earth a tree grows, and

from the wood of the tree, fire is ignited. In that igniting process we

first of all find smoke, and the next stage is heat, and then fire. When

there is actually fire, we can utilize it for various purposes; therefore,

fire is the ultimate goal. Similarly, in the gross material stage of life

the quality of ignorance is very prominent. Dissipation of this ignorance

takes place in the gradual progress of civilization from the barbarian stage

to civilized life, and when one comes to the form of civilized life he is

said to be in the mode of passion. In the barbarian stage, or in the mode of

ignorance, the senses are gratified in a very crude way, whereas in the mode

of passion, or in civilized life, the senses are gratified in a polished

manner. But when one is promoted to the mode of goodness, one can understand

that the senses and the mind are engaged in material activities only due to

being covered by perverted consciousness. When this perverted consciousness

is gradually transformed into KRSNa consciousness, then the path of

liberation is opened. So it is not that one is unable to approach the

Absolute Truth by the senses and the mind. The conclusion is, rather, that

the senses, mind and intelligence in the gross stage of contamination cannot

appreciate the nature of the Absolute Truth, but when purified, the senses,

mind and intelligence can understand what the Absolute Truth is. The

purifying process is called devotional service, or KRSNa consciousness.

(KRISHNA BOOK Ch. 87)

 

2.The art of focusing one's attention on the Supreme and giving one's love

to Him is called KRSNa consciousness. (KRISHNA BOOK preface)

 

3.In this verse Arjuna is referred to as GuDAkeza. GuDAkA means sleep, and

one who conquers sleep is called guDAkeza. Sleep also means ignorance. So

Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with

KRSNa. As a great devotee of KRSNa, he could not forget KRSNa even for a

moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in waking or in

sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of KRSNa's

name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of KRSNa can conquer both

sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of KRSNa constantly. This is called

KRSNa consciousness, or samAdhi. (BG 1.24)

 

4."The knowledge of the self and Supreme Self is very confidential and

mysterious, but such knowledge and specific realization can be understood if

explained with their various aspects by the Lord Himself." Bhagavad-gItA

gives us that general and specific knowledge of the self. The living

entities are parts and parcels of the Lord, and therefore they are simply

meant to serve the Lord. This consciousness is called KRSNa consciousness.

(BG 3.41

 

5.Serving KRSNa with purified senses is called KRSNa consciousness.(BG 6.26)

 

6.The highest yoga-mArga process is to concentrate the mind twenty-four

hours a day on KRSNa. This is called KRSNa consciousness (SB 3.15.45)

 

7.Attachment cannot be killed; it has simply to be transferred. Attachment

for material things is called material consciousness, and attachment for

KRSNa or His devotee is called KRSNa consciousness. (SB 3.25.20)

 

8.The appearance of consciousness after the appearance of false ego

indicates that, from the beginning, material consciousness is under the mode

of ignorance and that one therefore has to purify himself by purifying his

consciousness. This purificatory process is called KRSNa consciousness.(SB

3.26.61)

 

9.If by the evolutionary process of philosophical life one happens to reach

to the platform of intellectual life and understands that he is not this

material body, but is a spirit soul, one is situated in the vijJAna-maya

stage. Then by evolution of spiritual life he comes to understand the

Supreme Lord, or the Supreme Soul. When one develops his relationship with

Him and executes devotional service, that stage of life is called KRSNa

consciousness, (SB 10.87.17)

 

10.Actually, any person who can think, feel and will cannot be separated

from KRSNa. But the stage in which he can understand his eternal

relationship with KRSNa is called KRSNa consciousness.(KRISHNA BOOK Ch. 47)

 

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I remain,

 

your humble servant,

Shyamananda das