The potential of consciousness is not fully expressed in a material body , that is its artificial experience. Feelings in your body , or thoughts in the mind or an intellectual musing , are a limited and temporary reflection of a real potencial . As much as any prisoner only experiences the prison conditions and no more .
The original expression of our consciousness is experienced when we associate with Divinity , who is the original powerhouse of full spiritual varigatedness . In His association our material bodies are gradually eliminated and as iron acts like fire when in fire , our spiritual senses , mind and intelligence become manifested. Forms that are an expansions of pure consciousness, ie not atoms , elements compounds subjected to the laws of physics and time .
This is clearly described in detail in the Vedas , the spiritual body can begin developing immediately and, in some cases, experienced in full.
The process is given by that great transcendental Proffesor of trancendental consciousness, Srila Rupa Goswami.
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