Without exception, all material phenomena have a beginning and an end. A prominent idea of modern culture is that consciousness is another such material phenomenon. Thus it is believed that consciousness (or the self) also ends with the death of the material body. This point of view, however, remains only an assumption. It has not been proven by any scientific observation or experiment.

Nonetheless, the idea that the self ends with the body remains one of the great articles of faith of modern materialistic thought, and most of us have been educated from early childhood to think in terms of such beliefs. Few of us, however have thought through the philosophical implications of this type of thinking, which draws us unconsciously toward voidistic and nihilistic styles of life

The most basic of the Vedic teachings stands in direct opposition to the modern scientific view of consciousness and life. According to that teaching, individual consciousness is not at all dependent upon neurobiological functions but permanently exists as an independent reality.

The presence within the material body of a conscious observer who remains ever present throughout changing bodily and mental states indicates the existence of two energies - the spiritual energy (represented by the conscious self) and the material energy (represented by the temporary body). The vedas explain that this spiritual energy, symptomized by consciousness, continues to exist even after the material body is finished.

If each of us is an eternal soul covered only by different temporary bodily dresses, we can reasonably conclude that the highest welfare activity for all of human society is that which awakens us to our true spiritual identity and our dormant relationship with God. That activity is called Krsna consciousness.

Just as there is neither glory nor profit in saving the dress of a drowning man, there is neither glory nor profit in humanitarian efforts aimed exclusively at improving conditions for temporary, material body, which in the end is destined to grow old, become diseased, and die.

The chanting of the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, as promoted by Sri Caitanya, is accepted by the Vedas as the most effective means of self-purification in this age and awakening the dormant relationship with God. The Vedas describe the mantra as a prayer to the Lord, "Please Lord, engage me in Your service".

Srila Prabhupada himself notes in Srimad - Bhagavatam : “ the actual self is beyond the gross body and subtle mind. He is the potent, active principle of the body and mind.

“Without knowing the need of the dormant soul, one cannot be happy simply with the gratification of the body and mind … The spirit soul’s needs must be fulfilled. Simply by cleansing the cage of the bird, one does not satisfy the bird….

“There is dormant affection for God within everyone…. Therefore we have to engage ourselves in activities that will evoke our divine consciousness. This is possible only by hearing and chanting the divine activities of the Supreme Lord.

“Thus any occupational engagement which does not help one to achieve attachment for hearing and chanting the transcendental message of God is said…..to be simply a waste of time”