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Absence of consciousness

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 1

In the absence of consciousness, the limbs of the body remain inactive.
SB 1.13.5, Purport: In the absence of consciousness, the limbs of the body remain inactive. But when consciousness returns, the limbs and senses become active, and existence itself becomes delightful. Vidura was so dear to the members of the Kaurava family that his long absence from the palace was comparable to inactivity. All of them were feeling acute separation from Vidura, and therefore his return to the palace was joyful for all.

SB Canto 3

This absence of consciousness is called nirvāṇa in Māyāvāda philosophy.
SB 3.27.17, Purport: As long as the soul and the body are combined, we can understand that there is life. But when they are separated, there is no manifested existence of the body or the soul. This question asked by Devahūti of Kapiladeva is more or less impelled by the philosophy of voidism. The voidists say that consciousness is a product of a combination of matter and that as soon as the consciousness is gone, the material combination dissolves, and therefore there is ultimately nothing but voidness. This absence of consciousness is called nirvāṇa in Māyāvāda philosophy.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Unconsciousness means absence of consciousness.
Talk with Svarupa Damodara -- June 20, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Unconsciousness means absence of consciousness.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Unconsciousness also means no life?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Originally conscious. When there is forgetfulness, that is not. So unconsciousness is a covering of life. You develop this argument. There is no such thing as unconsciousness, but when the consciousness is covered, that is unconsciousness, negation.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That becomes matter.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That we say, "matter." Absence of consciousness is matter, jaḍa.

Satadhanya: We say "covered consciousness."

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Bhakti-cāru: But, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the body is matter, but still it is conscious as long as I am alive. So that means the life is consciousness?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: So the distinction that we are making is still proper, that matter is the inferior part of that Absolute Truth, and life is the superior part, and without being manipulated...

Prabhupāda: Superior feature.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes. But both are spirit in a sense.

Prabhupāda: Everything is spirit. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma. Therefore I say there is no matter. Only matter means when the spirit is not discovered. When people are rascals, then there is matter. When people are intelligent, there is no matter. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma. Therefore Māyāvādī philosophy, that "You are thinking you are not God," that is māyā.
Page Title:Absence of consciousness
Compiler:Matea, Visnu Murti
Created:16 of Jul, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=2, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:3