The real you is not physical (the collection of elements we call the “body”) but spiritual (the conscious self within the body). Our quality of life depends much more on the quality of our consciousness than it does on bodily pleasures or comforts.

The quality of our consciousness goes up or down—resulting in happiness or distress—depending on how we see the world and act in it. Lasting happiness results from being ourselves—spiritual beings, subordinate parts of a supreme whole. But if we make the happiness of our temporary body and mind our life’s priority, our consciousness shrinks; misery sets in. Spiritual elevation—raising our consciousness to higher, happier levels—happens quickly when we revive our God consciousness.

In this compact book, Srila Prabhupada recommends seeing this world as it is—a temporary place, full of anxiety—and following the higher road toward the supreme person, Krishna. Anyone can become elevated; the journey begins with a single step up.