Page 77 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION

Above the senses is the mind, above the mind is the intelligence, and above the intelligence is the soul.
Ultimately, when one’s intelligence becomes clear through devotional service, one is situated in buddhi-yoga.
This also is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te). When
devotional service develops and one’s intelligence becomes clear, one can use his intelligence to return home,
back to Godhead. (SB 7.7.26 – purport)

The secret to ending all suffering is explained in the next verse.

etad dvāro hi saṁsāro / guṇa-karma-nibandhanaḥ
ajñāna-mūlo ’pārtho ’pi / puṁsaḥ svapna ivārpyate (SB 7.7.27)

Through polluted intelligence one is subjected to the modes of nature, and thus one is conditioned by material
existence. Like a dreaming state in which one falsely suffers, material existence, which is due to ignorance,
must be considered unwanted and temporary. (SB 7.7.27)

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s commentary on this verse follows:

The unwanted condition of temporary life is called ignorance. One can very easily understand that the material
body is temporary, for it is generated at a certain date and ends at a certain date, after undergoing the six
kinds of change, namely birth, death, growth, maintenance, transformation and dwindling. The condition of
the eternal soul under the influence of the three modes of nature is due to his ignorance, and although it is
temporary, it is unwanted. Because of ignorance one is put into temporary bodies one after another. The spirit
soul, however, does not need to enter such temporary bodies. He does so only due to his forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa,
which results in ignorance of spiritual existence. Therefore, in the human form of life, when one’s intelligence is
developed, one should change his consciousness by trying to understand Kṛṣṇa. Then one can be liberated. This
is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), where the Lord says:

janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ / tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma / naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

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.” Unless one understands
Kṛṣṇa and comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must continue in material bondage. To end this conditional life,
one must surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, that is demanded by the Supreme Lord.
Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja.

As advised by Mahārāja Ṛṣabhadeva, na sādhu manye yata ātmano ’yam asann api kleśada āsa dehaḥ. One
must be intelligent enough to understand that although one’s body is temporary and will not endure for long,
as long as one has a body he must undergo the pangs of material existence. Therefore, if by good association,
by the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master, one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his conditional life of
material existence is vanquished, and his original consciousness, known as Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is revived.
When one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he can realize that material existence, whether one is awake or dreaming, is
nothing but a dream and has no factual value. This realization is possible by the grace of the Supreme Lord.
This grace is also present in the form of the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā. Therefore Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu’s mission is for everyone to engage in welfare activities to awaken the foolish living entity,
especially in human society, so that he may come to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and benefit by
liberation from conditional life. In this connection, Śrīla Madhvācārya cites the following verses:
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