Forgetful of his real nature

Expressions researched:
"forgetful of his real nature" |"forgetfulness of his real nature" |"forget my real nature"

BG Chapters 1 - 6

When individual soul is forgetful of his real nature, he obtains education and enlightenment from the superior lessons of Kṛṣṇa

BG 2.20, Purport: The soul is full of knowledge, or full always with consciousness. Therefore, consciousness is the symptom of the soul. Even if one does not find the soul within the heart, where he is situated, one can still understand the presence of the soul simply by the presence of consciousness. Sometimes we do not find the sun in the sky owing to clouds, or for some other reason, but the light of the sun is always there, and we are convinced that it is therefore daytime. As soon as there is a little light in the sky early in the morning, we can understand that the sun is in the sky. Similarly, since there is some consciousness in all bodies—whether man or animal—we can understand the presence of the soul. This consciousness of the soul is, however, different from the consciousness of the Supreme because the supreme consciousness is all-knowledge—past, present and future. The consciousness of the individual soul is prone to be forgetful. When he is forgetful of his real nature, he obtains education and enlightenment from the superior lessons of Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa is not like the forgetful soul. If so, Kṛṣṇa's teachings of Bhagavad-gītā would be useless.

Arjuna is the atomic soul, forgetful of his real nature; therefore he requires to be enlightened by Kṛṣṇa, or by His bona fide representative (the spiritual master)

BG 2.20, Purport: There are two kinds of souls—namely the minute particle soul (aṇu-ātmā) and the Supersoul (vibhu-ātmā). This is also confirmed in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (1.2.20) in this way:

aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyān

ātmāsya jantor nihito guhāyām

tam akratuḥ paśyati vīta-śoko

dhātuḥ prasādān mahimānam ātmanaḥ

"Both the Supersoul [Paramātmā] and the atomic soul [jīvātmā] are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being, and only one who has become free from all material desires as well as lamentations can, by the grace of the Supreme, understand the glories of the soul." Kṛṣṇa is the fountainhead of the Supersoul also, as it will be disclosed in the following chapters, and Arjuna is the atomic soul, forgetful of his real nature; therefore he requires to be enlightened by Kṛṣṇa, or by His bona fide representative (the spiritual master).

SB Canto 3

Simply because of his forgetfulness of his real nature as an eternal servitor of the Lord, the living entity is overwhelmed and captured by māyā

SB 3.25.36, Purport: There are three divisions of devotees—first-class, second-class and third-class. Even the third-class devotees are liberated souls. It is explained in this verse that although they do not have knowledge, simply by seeing the beautiful decoration of the Deity in the temple, the devotee is absorbed in thought of Him and loses all other consciousness. Simply by fixing oneself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, engaging the senses in the service of the Lord, one is imperceptibly liberated. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Simply by discharging uncontaminated devotional service as prescribed in the scriptures, one becomes equal to Brahman. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said, brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26] This means that the living entity in his original state is Brahman because he is part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. But simply because of his forgetfulness of his real nature as an eternal servitor of the Lord, he is overwhelmed and captured by māyā. His forgetfulness of his real constitutional position is māyā. Otherwise he is eternally Brahman.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

I am also cit, and Kṛṣṇa is also cit, sat-cit-ānanda, and I am also sat-cit-ānanda in small part. And because I am a very small particle, I forget my real nature

Lecture on SB 7.9.49 -- Vrndavana, April 4, 1976: So as soon as one understands vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19], then Vasudeva is there, and I am there. So what is my relationship with Vāsudeva? He is the greatest, greater than the greatest, and I am the smaller than the..., although the quality is the same. I am also cit, and Kṛṣṇa is also cit, sat-cit-ānanda, and I am also sat-cit-ānanda in small part. And because I am a very small particle, I forget my real nature. I identify with this material mahad-ādayaḥ. This is fallen down. This is fallen. A spark. Spark is fire, and the big fire is fire, but sometimes it is thrown. "Phat! Phat!" It sometimes falls down. So that small particle falls down. The big fire never falls down. Therefore Kṛṣṇa's another name is Acyuta. Acyuta means He never falls down. We, a small particle of the Acyuta, although by nature we are acyuta, but due to our weakness we are prone to fall down in this material world. That is our position. But again we can be reinstated in our original position by cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the position. Ādy-antavanta urugāya.