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Duty of the spirit soul

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Madhya-lila

Although they have apparently realized that they are not the material body but spirit soul, they nonetheless neglect the duty of the spirit soul, which is to render service to the Supreme Soul
CC Madhya 6.235, Purport: According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32), Mayavadi sannyasis who falsely think of themselves as liberated from the clutches of maya are called vimukta-maninah. Actually, they are not liberated, but they think that they have become liberated and have become Narayana Himself. Although they have apparently realized that they are not the material body but spirit soul, they nonetheless neglect the duty of the spirit soul, which is to render service to the Supreme Soul. Therefore their intelligence remains unsanctified. Unless one's intelligence is sanctified, one cannot apply it to understanding devotional service. Devotional service begins when the mind, intelligence and ego are completely purified.

Other Books by Srila Prabhupada

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

We also learn that it is the duty of the spirit soul to surrender, for only then can he be happy
Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 3: In Bhagavad-gita we are informed that the constitutional nature of the individual entity is spirit soul. He is not matter. As spirit soul, he is part and parcel of the supreme soul, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead. We also learn that it is the duty of the spirit soul to surrender, for only then can he be happy. The last instruction of Bhagavad-gita is that the spirit soul surrender completely unto the supreme soul, Krsna, and in that way realize happiness.

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

But real occupational duty is of the soul. When you come to that platform—the occupational duty of the soul—that is the highest class of religion
Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- New Vrindaban, September 5, 1972: So he says, sa vai pumsam paro dharmah. Dharma means, I have already explained, dharma means occupational duty. So everyone has got occupation and he is trying to get out of the inconveniences of material existence. So here it is suggested, because the question was dharma, dharmah kam saranam gatah, under whose protection is dharma now existing? So he is coming to that point. First of all he's explaining what is dharma, what is occupational duty. Actually dharma means occupational duty. Religion, I have already said, it is a kind of faith. Faith can be changed, but our constitutional position, occupational duty, that cannot be changed. We are eternal servant of Krsna, but without serving Krsna we are serving maya. We have accepted a false occupational duty, therefore it is called maya. Maya means false. Just like if I have got a body of America, American body, then my occupational duty is different from the body of an Indian, or from the body of a dog or a cat. So according to the body, our occupational duties change. But real occupational duty is of the soul. When you come to that platform -- the occupational duty of the soul -- that is the highest class of religion. That is explained here, sa vai pumsam paro dharmah.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

So this sad-dharma means the occupational duty of the soul. That is sad-dharma. And except that duty, whatever we are doing, that is asad-dharma; it will not stay
Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.106 -- New York, July 12, 1976: So this sad-dharma means the occupational duty of the soul. That is sad-dharma. And except that duty, whatever we are doing, that is asad-dharma; it will not stay. Now I have got this body, Indian body or Christian body or American body. But this, everything, this conception of Christianity or Indian nationality or American nationality -- everything will be finished with this body. Everything will be finished. Therefore all our engagements in this connection, they are all asad-dharma. It is very difficult. We are all engaged in occupational duties, all asad-dharma. But the Vedic injunction is asato ma sad gama: "Don't remain in this asat platform. Come to the sat platform." And the same thing is described here, sad-dharmasyavabodhaya. So the human life begins when we can distinguish between sat and asat.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Similarly, as part and parcel of God, the, it is the duty of the soul to be always engaged in the service of the Lord
Morning Walk -- June 23, 1975, Los Angeles:

Dr. John Mize: The question that bothers me in part is then why would the soul... Because I understand your conception that the soul is part of the spiritual sky originally or part of God, and it somehow falls out of this blissful condition due to pride, much like the Christian thesis that the devil fell out of heaven due to pride. And it seems puzzling why the soul would be so silly, so foolish, so insane, as to do such a thing.

Prabhupada: That is his independence.

Dr. John Mize: Independence.

Prabhupada: Instead of using independence properly, when he misuses independence he falls.

Dr. John Mize: I'm sorry, he what?

Prabhupada: He falls down.

Dr. John Mize: He falls.

Prabhupada: He falls down on account of his independence. Just like you have got independence. You are sitting here. You can go immediately. You may not like to hear me.

Dr. John Mize: I wouldn't what?

Prabhupada: You may not like to hear me.

Dr. John Mize: Yes.

Prabhupada: That independence you have got. I have got also. I may not talk with you. So that independence is always there. Similarly, as part and parcel of God, the, it is the duty of the soul to be always engaged in the service of the Lord.

Dr. John Mize: Always engaged in...?

Prabhupada: In the service of the Lord.
Page Title:Duty of the spirit soul
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti
Created:20 of feb, 2008
No. of Quotes:5
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=1, OB=1, Lec=2, Con=1, Let=0