The Way of Self-Realization
According to the Vedas, the scriptures of ancient India, this human form of life is a unique opportunity in the evolutionary cycle. A human being has the potential to achieve self-realization, or God-realization. This is the greatest opportunity in life.
What is self-realization?
Self-realization begins when we understand we are spiritual beings, distinct from our temporary material bodies and minds. We rely of our bodies and minds in this world, but unless these are utilized for self-realization, they cause our bondage. The spirit soul, the self within, is eternal, pure, indestructible and free. Our real self, the soul, never dies or grows old. We are the soul, not the body or mind. Due to our obsession with material objects, pains and pleasures, we have become implicated in illusion in this prison-house of material existence. We have accepted fleeting lives full of disappointments and hard struggles due to our false attachment to material existence. Human life is the chance offered by God, or Krishna, to free ourselves forever from illusion and bondage by returning to our real home of eternal bliss in the Kingdom of God.
What is God-realization?
God-realization is the process of understanding our intimate relationship with the Absolute Truth, who is known by many names, such as God, Allah, Jehovah, Narayana, Vishnu, Rama and Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Full self-realization and God-realization are one and the same.
What is the best spiritual practice?
The best spiritual practice is bhakti-yoga, the path of devotion to God. Every living being is part of God and one with God in essence. Krishna, the Absolute Truth, is always perfect and complete. Our complete life of perfection and bliss can be realized when we resume our loving relationship with God, the Absolute Complete. Because we have forgotten our real life with God in the eternal world of knowledge and bliss, we must purify our impure consciousness by chanting devotional prayers or mantras. The best mantra for this purpose is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra: “The Great Mantra for Deliverance.”
What is the best way of learning about Krishna consciousness, or God-realization?
According the Bhagavad-gita and all Vedic scriptures, one must hear from a self-realized soul to learn the true science of liberation and God-consciousness. Hearing from professional “teachers” and speakers will not help us achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and death. One must hear from a self-realized soul or his genuine representative.
Where can I find a self-realized soul?
Sri Krishna Chaitanya, the avatar of Krishna for this age, encouraged everyone to regularly chant the names of God, particularly those of Krishna and Rama. He advised everyone to advance quickly in spiritual life by reading Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam and studying the commentaries of great spiritual masters in the guru-parampara. These books and other essential Vedic scriptures have been translated and explained in English by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a God-realized soul. Although one need not apply for admission in any school, club, seminary or cult, it is best to study these books in the association of serious practitioners, as far as possible. Sri Krishna Chaitanya and A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada have opened the door for everyone in this age to achieve love of God through the chanting and singing of Krishna’s holy names. They have shown us the highest essence of Vedic knowledge in the form of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam and the commentaries (bhasyas) of self-realized souls. Swami Prabhupada repeatedly advised, “Please chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Your life will be sublime.”
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.