Think "Outside of the Box"

The biggest mistake we make is to analyze and do everything in terms of our material conditioning. In other words we foolishly allow our thoughts, words, and deeds to continue manifesting themselves within the "I am this body" box. We thus lock ourselves into identification with a particular family, a particular gender, a particular race, and a particular nationality. In this way we remain locked into the miseries of this material existence: miseries caused by the mind and body, miseries caused by other living beings, and miseries caused by natural disturbances. The trick to genuine spiritual enlightenment is stop thinking in this "I am this body" box. We have to train ourselves to instead think outside this box on the liberated spiritual plane, i.e. "I am a spirit-soul, the eternal servant of Krishna." If we always remind ourselves who we are actually are, and we manifest our thoughts, words, and deeds accordingly, we will witness a gradual, steady awakening of the pure spiritual awakened Krishna consciousness within our hearts.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Atlanta Hare Krishna TempleAtlanta Hare Krishna Temple

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Immunized Against Falling Again?

I would like to take advantage of the answer that you gave on the origin of the soul, to reveal to you a doubt that follows me down the years. Only because of faith, I have managed to forget it. But only now, reading your answer, has it has again come to my mind.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita:

"One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." Bg 4.9

I always had the doubt about what Krishna means by "does not take his birth again in the material world." Does this mean that we are already immunized against another fall into the material world? If the answer is yes, if we did come from the spiritual world, why did we fall in the first place? And how can we make sure not to fall again?

Thank you very much. I know your answer will be welcome and satisfactory.

Your servant in Krishna consciousness,

Viswambhara dasa

Answer: We Will Not Fall Again

The answer is very simple. Krishna describes that those in this material world who become perfect and go back to Godhead will not return to this material world. Whereas those who have made the mistake of falling into maya and have undergone the cure to free themselves of the material mentality are immunized against falling into maya again, those who have never experienced the hell of material existence may foolishly make this mistake. We fell here due to a misuse of our independence. If we take complete 100% shelter of guru and Krishna, we will not fall again.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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