The consciousness is the same. Your consciousness, my consciousness is the same. If you apply to certain objective, that is called "that-consciousness." Similarly, if you apply your consciousness simply for Kṛṣṇa, ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanam (CC Madhya 19.167), just favorably, I mean, engage your senses for the purpose of Kṛṣṇa. As Kṛṣṇa advises in the Bhagavad-gītā, yudhyasva mām anusmara (BG 8.7): "You fight. At the same time, think of Me." That is the prescription.
So Arjuna, he was a fighter. In the beginning, he was a fighter. At the end he remained a fighter. He did not change his position. After hearing Bhagavad-gītā, he did not change his position—he was a fighter, and he become a mendicant, or he become a svāmī. No. He did not become a svāmī. He remained as fighter, but the account was changed. Rubber stamp was changed. That's all.
He was considering fighting from his own standard point of view. He was thinking, "Oh, how can I fight with my grandfather? How can I fight with my teacher? How can I . . ." So he was thinking on his personal account. But when Kṛṣṇa informed him, instructed him, Bhagavad-gītā, that "Your business is to fight for Me," and he changed his decision.
This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have to change your position only. That's all. This is Bhāgavata. This is . . . if you practice acting only for Kṛṣṇa, then that seed of your material existence will be wiped completely. So that is bīja-nirharaṇam, wiping out the seed altogether.
- guru-śuśrūṣayā bhaktyā
- sarva-labdhārpaṇena ca
- saṅgena sādhu-bhaktānām
- īśvarārādhanena ca
- (SB 7.7.30)
Now he's prescribing what is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, how to practice it. The practice is, the first thing is, Prahlāda Mahārāja recommends guru-śuśrūṣayā. Guru-śuśrūṣayā. Guru-śuśrūṣayā means that you have to first of all select a spiritual master. Without a teacher, without guidance, nobody can make any process.
Even if you have passed M.A., and if you want to put some thesis and if you want to get yourself doctorate degree, then it is the system that the thesis should be guided by three expert Ph.D.'s. This is the system. So similarly, if you want to be purely Kṛṣṇa conscious person, then you must select a person who can give you instruction, who can guide you in the matter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So Bhagavad-gītā also teaches us the same thing: tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā (BG 4.34).
If you want to understand that transcendental science, then you have to understand from an expert, upadekṣyanti tad jñānam. The expert who is in . . . expert in that knowledge, he will instruct you, upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ. One who has actually realized, he will teach you. Therefore you have to go (to) such a person. And in the Kathopanisad, Vedas, it is also stated, the same thing: tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum eva abhigacchet (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12).