View source for The lower stratum of those who strive for perfection are the karmis, or fruitive workers, who look to gratify their senses. Above them are the jnanis, or seekers of knowledge

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{{terms|"The lower stratum of those who strive for perfection are the karmis, or fruitive workers, who  look to gratify their senses. Above them are the jnanis, or seekers of knowledge"}}
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[[Category:Those Who]]
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[[Category:Perfection]]
[[Category:Sense Gratification and Karmis]]
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[[Category:Jnani]]
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[[Category:Knowledge]]
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<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
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<div id="Renunciation_Through_Wisdom" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Renunciation Through Wisdom"><h3>Renunciation Through Wisdom</h3>
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<div id="RTW21_0" class="quote" parent="Renunciation_Through_Wisdom" book="OB" index="13" link="RTW 2.1" link_text="Renunciation Through Wisdom 2.1">
<div class="heading">The lower stratum of those who strive for perfection are the karmīs, or fruitive workers, who look to gratify their senses. Above them are the jñānīs, or seekers of knowledge, who restrain the urges of their senses and become situated on the subtle, mental plane.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:RTW 2.1|Renunciation Through Wisdom 2.1]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Except for the religion of the self, all paths and religions are pseudo-spiritual exercises consisting only of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending oneself from danger. These are the primary activities of the animals. The lower species cannot elevate themselves by executing the religion of the self, or soul. But since human beings are inherently able to practice the religion of the self, some endeavor to reach perfection. Only as a human being can one make such inquiries as "Who am I?" and "Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble?"</p>
<p>Human life alone affords one the chance to attain unending happiness. In this life one should think, "Although I do not want suffering, it nevertheless comes; although I do not desire death, it forcibly snatches away my life; although I detest old age, when my youth is finished I will surely begin to age; and although I try to be free from disease and disaster, they never leave me alone." Although he sees all this suffering, a fool works hard to make his life comfortable, whereas an intelligent person calmly considers his situation and thinks of the best means to end his distress once and for all. When such thoughts become frequent and sincere, his search leads him to inquire into the Absolute Truth. Such a person takes up the path of self-realization. He may have many duties, but because of his previous pious activities such a wise person will execute these duties and at the same time confront the realities of birth, death, old age, and disease.</p>
<p>The lower stratum of those who strive for perfection are the karmīs, or fruitive workers, who  look to gratify their senses. Above them are the jñānīs, or seekers of knowledge, who restrain the urges of their senses and become situated on the subtle, mental plane. Superior to them are the yogīs who seek mystic perfection. Lord Caitanya has described all these persons as aśānta, restless. Among them, those who are free of all material designations and are rid of the false ego, and who are thus liberated beings situated in the self—they alone can understand Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, in truth. When they become fully conversant with the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, such saintly souls can act as spiritual masters for all humanity, regardless of any external designation.</p>
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