8 THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REALIZATION

for their existence because the material universe is a region of darkness.

Beyond this region, however, is a spiritual realm, which is described as

functioning under the superior nature of God. That realm is described in

, the Upanisads thus: ‘‘There is no need of sun, moon, or stars, nor is that

abode illumined by electricity or any form of fire. All these material uni-

verses are illumined by a reflection of that spiritual light, and because

that superior nature is always self-luminous, we can experience a glow of

light even in the densest darkness of night.”’ In the Hari-vamsa the spiri-

tual nature is explained by the Supreme Lord Himself as follows: ‘‘The

glaring effulgence of the impersonal Brahman [the impersonal Absolute]

illuminates all existences, both material and spiritual. But, O Bharata,

you must understand that this Brahman illumination is the effulgence of

My body.”’ In the Brahma-samhitd this conclusion is also confirmed. We

should not think that we can attain that abode by any material means

. such as spaceships, but we should know for certain that one who can at-

tain that spiritual abode of Krsna can enjoy eternal, spiritual bliss without

interruption. As fallible living entities, we have two phases of existence.

One is called material existence, which is full of the miseries of birth,

death, old age, and disease, and the other is called spiritual existence, in

which there is an incessant spiritual life of eternity, bliss, and knowledge.

In material existence we are ruled by the material conception of the body

and the mind, but in spiritual existence we can always relish the happy,

transcendental contact of the Personality of Godhead. In spiritual exis-
tence, the Lord is never lost to us.

The Krsna consciousness movement is trying to bring that spiritual ex-
istence to humanity at large. In our present material consciousness, we
are attached to the sensual material conception of life, but this concep-
tion can be removed at once by devotional service to Krsna, or Krsna
consciousness. If we adopt the principles of devotional service, we can
become transcendental to the material conceptions of life and be liber-
ated from the modes of goodness, passion, and ignorance, even in the
midst of various material engagements. Everyone who is engaged in

| material affairs can derive the highest benefit from the pages of Back to
Godhead and the other literatures of this Krsna consciousness move-
ment. These literatures help all people sever the roots of the indefatiga-
ble banyan tree of material existence. These literatures are authorized to
train us to renounce everything related to the material conception of life
and to relish spiritual nectar in every object. This stage is obtainable only
by devotional service and nothing else. By rendering such service, one
can at once get liberation (mukti) even during this present life. Most
