The Cause of Material Existence.

One must be intelligent enough to understand that, even though the body has a limited lifespan and is destined to perish shortly, as long as we live within it, we must experience the sufferings of material existence, resulting from our thoughts, words, and actions.

Therefore, if, through happy association and through the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master, we adopt Krishna consciousness, also called God consciousness, our conditioning within material existence ends, and our original consciousness, called Krishna consciousness, is revived. Once we are Krishna conscious, we can realize that this material consciousness, whether waking or dreaming, is nothing but a dream and has no value. This realization is possible through the grace of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, a grace that also takes the form of the teachings of God, which you can consult by opening the book: “The words Of Krishna, Christ, God, The Supreme Being,” also called “The Song of the Blessed Lord, or Song of the Lord.”

Our duty is to practice Krishna consciousness, through which we can reduce to the center or destroy the seeds of self-interested action, artificially created by the three attributes and modes of influence of material nature: virtue, passion, and ignorance. We will then interrupt the flow of intelligence in the waking, dream, and deep sleep states. In other words, when a person becomes Krishna conscious, their ignorance is immediately dispelled.

On the other hand, one who is completely absorbed in unwavering devotional service to Krishna transcends the three attributes and modes of influence of material nature: virtue, passion, and ignorance, and thus attains the spiritual level.

Truly, by practicing the loving and devoted service one offers to Krishna, one immediately attains the spiritual level, beyond the influence of the three attributes mentioned above and their attendant consequences.

The root of ignorance is material consciousness, which must be absolutely annihilated by spiritual consciousness, also called Krishna consciousness.

Let us not forget that we must absolutely reduce to ashes the root of ignorance, which is the primary cause of material existence.

What does it mean to be “dead” while still alive?

Anyone whose thoughts, words, and deeds do not lead them to turn to religion, and even more so to God, who is not led by their ritual religious practices to choose renunciation of sense pleasure and materialism, or whose renunciation does not lead to God consciousness and devotional service to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, even if they are still breathing and living.

As the Lord teaches, any action that does not ultimately lead to devotional service is a cause of bondage in this material world. Unless a human being gradually rises to the level of devotional service from their natural activity, they are little better than a corpse or a grave. Action that does not promote the development of Krishna consciousness, also called God consciousness, must be considered useless, because it has no real interest.