Lack of consciousness means misconception, disease. This is described in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād—the disease is separate interest. The deviation from our normal spiritual condition, the development of misconception, is based on the charm—the prospect—of separate interest.

That is the root cause of all misunderstanding. The conception of local, provincial interest has caused the difference between a proper conception of reality and misconception. We have gone away from the central conception.

From universal consciousness we have come to this provincial plane. And according to the gradation of consciousness in its development from provincial to universal, we may find ourselves in so many different planets or planes of existence: Bhū, Bhuva, Sva, Jana, Maha, Tapa, Satya; all these different stages of development are involved in this process of provincialism and universalism.

But loss of consciousness of the Centre is the root of this entire material existence.One who is conscious of the organic whole, on the other hand, is in the most healthy position. That is proper adjustment, and maladjustment is the cause of our present diseased condition.

Adjustment is life; it is liberated life, and to be the prey of maladjustment is to approach pain and misery. Everything within the environment is all right. The only difficulty is found in the conception of selfish special interest.

Our aversion to the universal interest is the cause of our detachment from the conception of the whole and from happiness and health. We have been deprived of the happiness of our healthy position, and the cause is selfish interest.

Śrīla Śrīdhar Mahārāj