View source for Eternal Activities of the Spirit Soul

The nature of the spirit soul is to be eternally active, full of knowledge, and blissful. However, due to contact with material nature, the living entity's original activities become covered, leading to a bewildered state where one identifies with the temporary body. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the goal of human life is to distinguish the self from the material field of action and to re-engage in the authentic, spiritual activities of devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

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=== Distinction Between Body and Soul ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the first step in spiritual realization is understanding that the self is purely spiritual and distinct from the material casing. While the body undergoes changes and performs actions based on the laws of nature, the soul remains the observer, distinct from the machinery of the senses.

* [[Vaniquotes:Actually, the activities of the body are not the activities of the soul. The soul is different from the body|Actually, the activities of the body are not the activities of the soul. The soul is different from the body.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that you, the soul, are present in your body and that your body is the field of your activities. So whatever you are doing is limited by the field of your body|In the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that you, the soul, are present in your body and that your body is the field of your activities. So whatever you are doing is limited by the field of your body.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One does not need this material body, and he does not need to accept the dictations of the material body. The qualities of the material modes in the body will act, but as spirit soul the self is aloof from such activities. BG 1972 purports|One does not need this material body, and he does not need to accept the dictations of the material body. The qualities of the material modes in the body will act, but as spirit soul the self is aloof from such activities.]]

=== Illusion of Material Doership ===

Although the living entity is constitutionally free, under the spell of ''māyā'', he falsely thinks he is the controller of his environment. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that it is actually the three modes of material nature that dictate bodily actions, while the bewildered soul merely desires and suffers the reactions.

* [[Vaniquotes:The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature|The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Spirit soul in his original condition is joyful, blissful, eternal and full of knowledge. Only by his implication in material activities has he become miserable, temporary and full of ignorance. This is due to vikarma|Spirit soul in his original condition is joyful, blissful, eternal and full of knowledge. Only by his implication in material activities has he become miserable, temporary and full of ignorance. This is due to vikarma.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Just as aromas are distinct from the material vehicle in which they are carried, the soul is unattached to material activities. This analysis can be considered by a person who is fully under the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord|Just as aromas are distinct from the material vehicle in which they are carried, the soul is unattached to material activities. This analysis can be considered by a person who is fully under the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.]]

=== Supersoul as the Witness ===

In the heart of every living being, the Supreme Lord acts as the Paramātmā, or Supersoul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the individual soul engages in trying to enjoy the fruits of the material world, the Supersoul remains transcendental, acting only as the witness and the sanctioner of the individual's desires.

* [[Vaniquotes:The individual soul eats the fruit of the tree, while the other bird does not eat the fruit but only observes the activities of the eating bird. Without attachment, the witnessing bird helps the fruit-eating bird perform fruitful activities|The individual soul eats the fruit of the tree, while the other bird does not eat the fruit but only observes the activities of the eating bird. Without attachment, the witnessing bird helps the fruit-eating bird perform fruitful activities.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The individual living soul is subject to the laws of fruitive activity, but the Supersoul, Paramatma, is not affected by the fruitive activities of the individual soul|The individual living soul is subject to the laws of fruitive activity, but the Supersoul, Paramatma, is not affected by the fruitive activities of the individual soul.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The jivatma is enjoying or suffering by eating the fruits of the bodily activities, but the Paramatma, who is free from such bondage, witnesses and sanctions the activities of the individual soul as the individual soul desires|The jivatma is enjoying or suffering by eating the fruits of the bodily activities, but the Paramatma, who is free from such bondage, witnesses and sanctions the activities of the individual soul as the individual soul desires.]]

=== Devotional Service: The True Activity ===

Contrary to the impersonal philosophy which seeks to negate activity to stop suffering, Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the soul is eternally active. The perfection of existence is not inactivity, but rather ''bhakti-yoga'', or devotional service, which is the unalloyed, liberated activity of the spirit soul.

* [[Vaniquotes:Devotional service is not inactivity, but the unalloyed activity of the soul|Devotional service is not inactivity, but the unalloyed activity of the soul.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Bhakti-yoga is the proper activity of the soul, and when one actually engages in unalloyed, uncontaminated devotional service, he is already liberated|Bhakti-yoga is the proper activity of the soul, and when one actually engages in unalloyed, uncontaminated devotional service, he is already liberated.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Life outside of a prison is certainly free from prison activities, but is not devoid of activity. The soul is by nature eternally active, but the impersonalists try to negate the activities of the soul in the spiritual realm|Life outside of a prison is certainly free from prison activities, but is not devoid of activity. The soul is by nature eternally active, but the impersonalists try to negate the activities of the soul in the spiritual realm.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If it (soul) is eternal, then it is eternally active, and its activities in the spiritual kingdom are the most confidential part of spiritual knowledge. BG 1972 purports|If it (soul) is eternal, then it is eternally active, and its activities in the spiritual kingdom are the most confidential part of spiritual knowledge.]]

=== Conclusion ===

The teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly establish that the spirit soul is never inactive, even in the liberated stage. While material activities bind the conditioned soul to the cycle of birth and death, spiritual activities—performed in the service of Kṛṣṇa—are the source of true freedom and eternal bliss. By shifting one's engagement from the demands of the temporary body to the service of the Supreme Lord, the living entity reawakens his original consciousness and attains the spiritual kingdom.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Activities_of_the_Soul|Activities of the Soul]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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