suddhabhakti

  In the beginning, from clear  consciousness , or the pure state of Krishna consciousness, the first contamination sprang up. This is called a false ego, or identification of the body as self. The living entity exists in the natural state of Krishna consciousness, but he has marginal independence, and this allows him to forget Krishna. Originally, pure Krishna consciousness exists, but because of the misuse of marginal independence, there is a chance of forgetting Krishna. This is exhibited in actual life; there are many instances in which someone acting in Krishna consciousness suddenly changes. In the Upanishads, it is stated, therefore, that the path of spiritual realization is just like the sharp edge of a razor. The example is very appropriate. One shaves his cheeks with a sharp razor very nicely, but as soon as his attention is diverted from the activity, he immediately cuts his cheek because he mishandles the razor. Not only must one come to the stage of pure Krishna c...

       In  Kṛṣṇa,  Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the five levels of ego covering the self: “Within the body there are five different departments of existence, known as  anna-maya, prāṇa-maya,   mano-maya,   vijñāna-maya,  and at last  ānanda-maya.  [These are enumerated in the  Brahmānanda-vallī  of the  Taittirīya Upaniṣad. ] In the beginning of life, every living entity is food conscious. A child or an animal is satisfied only by getting nice food. This stage of consciousness, in which the goal is to eat sumptuously, is called  anna-maya.   Anna  means ‘food.’ After this one lives in the consciousness of being alive. If one can continue his life without being attacked or destroyed, one thinks himself happy. This stage is called  prāṇa-maya,  or consciousness of one’s existence. After this stage, when one is situated on the mental platform, that consciousness is called  mano-maya. ...