Asking The Question

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has given a nice example in this connection. The nature or quality of sea water is that it is salty. Whether one examines an entire ocean of sea water or just one drop, this quality of saltiness does not change; both the drop and the ocean are salty. The difference is in the quantity of sea water, not in the quality.

The question now comes to mind, "If we are by nature full of bliss and knowledge, why are we experiencing something temporary and miserable?" Everyone should ask this most important question; otherwise he has not actually reached the human form of life. This human form of life is meant for solving this question. Every activity we perform which is not directed at solving this question is simply a waste of time. It is not an extremely difficult question either, if we simply take the time to examine it.

The most prominent reason for failing to experience our real nature of eternity, bliss and knowledge is that we have a body which 1) exists only temporarily, 2) is completely unconscious, and 3) is always either partially or completely miserable. This body is produced of material nature, and these three aspects are qualities of the material energy.

The Supreme Lord expands Himself into infinite energies, which can generally be divided into three groups. One energy, which we have previously described, is called the superior, spiritual energy of the Lord. Another energy is the lower, inferior energy, called matter. And our nature is called marginal because we are one of the superior energies of the Lord but are now in contact with the inferior, material energy.

In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna describes this material energy:

This material form of energy is the exact opposite of the superior energy and therefore has the quality of being temporary. This fact can be easily understood if we just examine the history of our father or our father's father. Some of us have seen pictures of them when they were young, and then again when they were married, and then again when they were old. And now many of these persons have died, and their bodies are rotting. So the body is temporary, and all the different forms which it takes are also temporary.

The next quality of the material energy is that it is not conscious. This material world is nothing but a great lump of dead, ignorant energy which lacks the capacity for movement or awareness. This fact can be observed in these material bodies. As long as the superior energy is situated within the body, there is motion and consciousness. But at the point of death, when the spiritual living entity or life force leaves the body, suddenly the movement and consciousness which were present also leave the body. At this point we can see that the material elements of which the body consists have nothing to do with consciousness; these bodies are completely unconscious.

The third quality of the material energy is that it is full of unhappiness. In Bhagavad-gita Krsna mentions this fact:

No matter which position one holds within this entire material world-whether one is rich, famous, beautiful or talented-he must be miserable here. That is the nature of this place. It is full of miseries; it is a place for suffering.