Duty of the finger

Expressions researched:
"duty of this finger" |"duty of the finger" |"duty of the healthy finger"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

What is the duty of this finger? "Now I wish that you stand like this." The finger is standing like this. It is executing my order. If I say, "Close," finger immediately closed. So this is the duty

Lecture on BG 4.11-18 -- Los Angeles, January 8, 1969: This is very easy to understand. Just like this finger is the part and parcel of your body. The hand is the part and parcel of your body. The leg is the part and parcel of your body. So we are all part and parcel of the Supreme. So what is our duty? What is the duty of this finger? "Now I wish that you stand like this." The finger is standing like this. It is executing my order. If I say, "Close," finger immediately closed. So this is the duty. If I am part and parcel of Krsna then what is my duty? My duty is to act what Krsna says, that's all. That is my action. Without knowing this, whatever I do, that is perverted action. Just like in diseased condition this finger cannot act according to my order. "Oh, there is some pain. If I want to make it stand like that, oh, I feel pain," because there is diseased condition. Similarly, when we do not act in Krsna consciousness that is our diseased condition of life. That is not normal condition. In normal condition we shall be all prepared to act in Krsna consciousness. That we should know. Then our action will be right.

Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of this finger? The duty of the finger is to serve the whole body, that's all

Lecture on BG 6.46-47 -- Los Angeles, February 21, 1969: Yes. That is natural. If I am part and parcel of God my duty is to serve. This example I have given you many times. Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of this finger? The duty of the finger is to serve the whole body, that's all. If I am feeling something itching, immediately finger is working. If I want to see, the eyes immediately work. If I want to go the legs immediately take me. So as this bodily part and part, limbs, are helping me, the whole thing, and I am eating, and the stomach, I am eating only. Similarly God is meant for simply receiving service from all other parts. Not to serve. The service, if the limbs of the body serves the whole body, the energy automatically comes to the parts of the body. Similarly if we serve Krsna, we get all our necessities, energy, automatically. Yatha taror mula-nisecanena [SB 4.31.14]. The example, just like pouring water on the root of the tree, the energy is immediately supplied to the leaves, to the twigs, to the branches, to everywhere immediately. Similarly simply by serving Krsna or God you supply all other parts, you serve all other parts. There is no question of serving differently. The ... everything automatically comes.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Just like this finger is part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body

Lecture on SB 3.25.33-34 -- Bombay, December 3, 1974: So these are all rascal philosophy. This is not. Nobody should become so ambitious as to become one with the Supreme. That is not very good intelligence. Good intelligence is that "I am eternal part and parcel of Narayana, and it is the duty of the part and parcel to serve the whole." That is correct philosophy. Just like this finger is part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body. Whenever I ask any service from the finger, "Come here," it is coming here. "Come here," it is coming here, "Come here." This is the duty. That is the normal condition. If at once with my order the finger cannot come here or come here, then it is diseased -- because it cannot give service. So, so long as we are part and parcel of Krsna, or the Supreme Lord, our duty is to give service. That is the description given by Lord Caitanya. Everywhere in every sastra, that is the... Jivera 'svarupa' haya-nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Eternally we are servant.

Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of the finger? I ask the finger, "Please come here." It comes immediately. I ask the finger, "Come here." So that means service

Lecture on SB 3.26.10 -- Bombay, December 22, 1974: So what is the duty of the part and parcel? That is also very easy to understand. Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of the finger? I ask the finger, "Please come here." It comes immediately. I ask the finger, "Come here." So that means service. Therefore part and parcel's duty is... Just like in a office, if I say, "This man is one of our part," or "one of my partner," a partner means he is working for the same interest. That is partner. So similarly, we are part and parcel of Krsna -- that means we must be partner of Krsna. And what Krsna wants? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66]. He wants. So as partner of Krsna, you should preach that "You surrender to Krsna." That is your business.

Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of this finger? To abide by the order of the body. I want: "Finger, you stand like this"; the finger is standing. "You come here," "Yes." That is part and parcel

Lecture on SB 6.1.17 -- Honolulu, May 17, 1976: So Krsna taught him Bhagavad-gita. Then, still, He gave him the freedom, yathecchasi tatha kuru: [Bg. 18.63] "Now Arjuna, I have instructed you everything. Now you decide what to do." It is not force. Reply was that now, nasto moho smrtir labdha: "My illusion is now over. I have got... I am now remembering what I am." That remembering means "I am not belonging to this family." Tvat prasadad madhusudana. Smrtir labdha. Smrtir. This is... In the material world we have lost our memory that "I am part and parcel of Krsna, and my duty is to serve Krsna." This is our position. This is called illusion. Just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of this finger? To abide by the order of the body. I want: "Finger, you stand like this"; the finger is standing. "You come here," "Yes." That is part and parcel. That is part and parcel. So if we are part and parcel of Krsna, our only duty is to serve Krsna. There is no other duty. But we have created so many duties, and that is designation.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

As we have several times explained that this finger is the part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger always serve the body, whole body. It has no other occupation

Lecture on The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972: Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Bhakti, it is very simple thing. Our relationship with Krsna is natural. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, mamaivamsa jiva-bhutah. We are part and parcel of Krsna; therefore our only duty is to serve Krsna. That is natural. There is no question about it. Part and parcel means helping the whole. As we have several times explained that this finger is the part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger always serve the body, whole body. It has no other occupation. As soon as I desire, "Finger, you come to this place," immediately it comes. "Finger, you come to this place," it immediately comes. So we can study. What is the meaning of part and parcel? Part and parcel means to serve the whole. Krsna is the Absolute Truth. We are relative truth. Therefore it is our duty to serve Krsna. That is our natural position.

General Lectures

Now, this part and parcel of this body is the finger, or anything you take. What is the duty of this finger? The duty of the finger is to serve the whole body. That's all. It has no independent existence. The... A finger, if it noncooperates with this body to work for the body, then it is to be understood that the finger is in diseased condition

Lecture "Nobody Wants to Die" -- Boston, May 7, 1968:: So if you identify yourself with this body, then there is no need of meditation because body, you are actually seeing -- this is body. No meditation means that you have to transcend the bodily platform, the mental platform, the intellectual platform. Then you find out what is the "I." That is meditation. But fortunately we get information directly. Instead of searching out what you are, what is your position, what is this "I," you get direct information from Krsna. What is that? Krsna says that "All these living entities, they are My part and parcel." So as part and parcel, you may claim as God. How is that? Just like this whole body. Now, the finger, which is the part and parcel of this body, can be said also "body." But the finger is not the whole body. A finger, if it claims that "I am the whole body," then it is wrong conception. But if the finger claims that "I am body," there is no wrong. Finger is... Because it is part and parcel of bo..., this body, whole body, therefore it is also body. Just like part and parcel of gold is also gold -- it is not different from gold -- similarly, I, individual I, I am the part and parcel of the Supreme "I," Krsna. That is the real philosophy. And as soon as you understand that you are part and parcel of the Supreme, then your function is also immediately fixed up. What is that? Now, this part and parcel of this body is the finger, or anything you take. What is the duty of this finger? The duty of the finger is to serve the whole body. That's all. It has no independent existence. The... A finger, if it noncooperates with this body to work for the body, then it is to be understood that the finger is in diseased condition. Suppose if I have got some pain. I want my finger to work in some part of my body like this, and if it cannot, that means it is in diseased condition. If there is some pain, you are feeling not to work the finger. Similarly, our position, being part and parcel of the Supreme, our function is to serve the Supreme. If we do not serve the Supreme, then it is our diseased condition, which is called maya. Maya means which is not actual fact. Ma-ya. Ma means "not"; ya means "this."

Just like this finger is my part and parcel of this body. It is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body. I want to do like that; the finger helps me. That is the duty of the finger. If the finger cannot do it, then it is to be understood that he is diseased

Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, April 6, 1971:: Now, after being purified, what is your position? Not that you become imperson. There are philosophers, that when one becomes identified with Brahman, he becomes immediately imperson. No. We keep our personality. We are never imperson. All of us are individuals. Krsna is individual. We are sitting here. We are all individual. So we keep our individuality, but our senses become purified. That is called mukti. Bhagavata gives the definition of mukti: mukti hitva anyatha rupam svarupena vyavasthitih [SB 2.10.6]. What is mukti? Mukti means when one gives up his engagement, activities, hitva anyatha rupam, identifying himself with something material, and he is engaged in his own original, constitutional position, and that is called mukti. The original constitutional position is every living entity is a part and parcel of the Supreme Person. I have given you several times example. This is stated in the sastras also. Just like this finger is my part and parcel of this body. It is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body. I want to do like that; the finger helps me. That is the duty of the finger. If the finger cannot do it, then it is to be understood that he is diseased. It is diseased. As soon as the finger cannot give me regular service, it is to be understood that it is diseased. Similarly, any person who is not giving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is diseased, materially diseased. He has to be cured.

What is the duty of the parts and parcel? Suppose this finger—they are the parts and parcel of my body. What is the duty of the finger? The finger has to catch the foodstuff or prepare the foodstuff and put into the mouth. The finger cannot enjoy; it has given to the stomach

Lecture at Bharatiya V idya Bhav a n -- Bombay, October 18, 1973:: So this definition given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that jivera svarupa haya krsna nitya-dasa: "The real, original characteristic of the living entity is to serve Krsna." That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says, mamaivamso jiva-bhutah: [Bg. 15.7] "All these living entities, they are My parts and parcels." Just try to understand. What is the duty of the parts and parcel? Suppose this finger -- they are the parts and parcel of my body. What is the duty of the finger? The finger has to catch the foodstuff or prepare the foodstuff and put into the mouth. The finger cannot enjoy; it has given to the stomach. Similarly, if we are parts and parcel of Krsna, we cannot enjoy anything directly without giving Krsna. That is our duty. Jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. So Krsna also said in the Bhagavad-gita, dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Just like if I'm healthy the finger is also healthy. Then what is the duty of the healthy finger? To serve this body. Similarly, we have got this energy from Kṛṣṇa, from God. So if you utilize this energy from Kṛṣṇa then it is proper utilization

Interview -- March 9, 1968, San Francisco: Prabhupada: Another example: this finger takes some foodstuff and gives to the stomach. So when the stomach is satisfied, the finger is satisfied automatically. It does not require to take separately any food. But the karmis are trying to enjoy themselves just like the finger. If it takes a nice cake and if he thinks that why shall I give it to the stomach? So it cannot eat. It simply spoils. That's all. So we are spoiling our energy without Krsna consciousness. And therefore you are being subjected to the laws of transmigrating from one species of life. We are simply spoiling our time and energy. So if we take to Krsna consciousness that is the proper utilization of our energy given by God. Just like if I'm healthy the finger is also healthy. Then what is the duty of the healthy finger? To serve this body. Similarly, we have got this energy from Krsna, from God. So if you utilize this energy from Krsna then it is proper utilization. If you utilize the energy for your sense gratification then you are misusing it. So anyone who is not in Krsna consciousness, he's spoiling his time, wasting his life and subjecting himself in so many laws of nature. So these things are very nicely explained in this Bhagavad-gita As It Is. This is the preliminary study of Krsna consciousness and if one studies this book nicely then he goes to other books. I've got this Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is also Krsna consciousness.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

The finger, so long it is serving my body like this, like this, it is in real condition, real, healthy condition

Conversation with Bajaj and Bhusan -- September 11, 1972, Arlington, Texas, At Their Home:

Prabhupada: Yes. If you do not learn, then you are darkness. Just like mamaivamso. Just like your finger is the part of your body, similarly, you are part of the body of Krsna. Now you have to learn. If you are part, just like finger is the part of my body... What is the duty of the finger?

Guest (2): To serve body.

Prabhupada: That's all. The finger, so long it is serving my body like this, like this, it is in real condition, real, healthy condition. And if it is painful -- it cannot serve -- then it is not in healthy condition. So therefore any living entity who is not serving Krsna, he is not in healthy condition. He is in maya. Anyone who is not in Krsna's service, he is in maya.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Now, just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of the finger? To serve the whole body. I order the finger "Please come here," immediately it does like this. So the finger, being part and parcel of the body, it is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body

Evening Darsana -- July 7, 1976, Washington, D.C.: Prabhupada: And because we are part and parcel of God, therefore we show sometimes activities very wonderful, but still, God's activities are still more wonderful. That we cannot compare. That is not possible. So we should understand what is the duty of the part and parcel. Now, just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. So what is the duty of the finger? To serve the whole body. I order the finger "Please come here," immediately it does like this. So the finger, being part and parcel of the body, it is the duty of the finger to serve the whole body. When the finger is unable to give any service, then it is diseased. If there is some pain in the finger, I want to use this finger for some purpose, to pick up this flower, I cannot do it, that means it is diseased. Similarly, we living entities, part and parcel of God, when we are unable to give service to the Supreme, that is our diseased condition. That is not normal condition. And when we are actually able to give service to God, that is our healthy condition. So in the materialistic way of life we are diseased. Because we are diseased, therefore we have to accept birth and death. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. So we have to get free from this diseased condition. Suddhyet sattvam. Yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Just like this finger is part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger to act according to my desire. I ask the finger, "Please come here. I have some itchy feeling." If it cannot, then it is diseased

Room Conversation -- May 8, 1977, Hrishikesh: Prabhupada: So jiva is also Brahman. It is same thing, but very small particle. That's all. You can understand the nature of God by studying the nature of jiva. It does not take much hard... He said, mamaivamso jiva-loke. Manah... Because now... He says, manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [Bg. 15.7]. "So why he's struggling? Because he's depending on the mind and the senses. He's not depending upon Me." They are creating mental creation, concoction, and acting sensually. Therefore the normal condition... Just like this finger is part and parcel of my body, so it is the duty of the finger to act according to my desire. I ask the finger, "Please come here. I have some itchy feeling." If it cannot, then it is diseased. Similarly, the duty of the jiva is to serve Krsna. If he cannot, then he's diseased. And if you want to continue in diseased condition, that is your obstinacy. Yathecchasi tatha kuru: [Bg. 18.63] "Whatever you like, you do." Krsna says that "Now that I have spoken to you everything, now whatever you like, you do." And because Arjuna understood Him totally, he said, nasto mohah smrtir labdha karisye vacanam tava [Bg. 18.73]. This is Gita's verse. "I'll do what You say." That is all.