View source for The Main Business of Human Life Is Self-Realization

The modern world places immense value on economic development, technological advancement, and the pursuit of comfortable living. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently reminded his followers that these pursuits are secondary. Drawing from the deepest Vedic wisdom, he established that the human form of life has a specific, exalted purpose that separates it from the animal kingdom. The true "main business" of human existence is to awaken from spiritual ignorance, realize our eternal identity, and reestablish our loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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=== Inquiring About the Absolute Truth ===
The evolutionary cycle spans millions of species, and attaining a human body is a rare and precious achievement. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that this specific body is endowed with advanced intelligence not for the purpose of sophisticated sense gratification, but for ''tattva-jijñāsā''—inquiring into the Absolute Truth. The foundation of Vedic education, as summarized in the ''Vedānta-sūtra'', is that a human being must urgently question their actual identity beyond the physical body.

* [[Vaniquotes:Actually the human life is meant for being educated that he is not this body; he is soul. That is the Vedanta-sutra philosophy, to inquire about the spirit soul. That is our main business|Actually the human life is meant for being educated that he is not this body; he is soul. That is the Vedanta-sutra philosophy, to inquire about the spirit soul. That is our main business.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Now this human form of body, which is above the lower grades of forms. - There are 8,400,000 forms of body. The soul is transmigrating, evolution. But when we get this human form of body, our main business is to inquire about God|Now this human form of body, which is above the lower grades of forms. - There are 8,400,000 forms of body. The soul is transmigrating, evolution. But when we get this human form of body, our main business is to inquire about God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This is the main business of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. The Vedanta-sutra says that this life is especially meant for developing or inquiring about our love with Krsna|This is the main business of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. The Vedanta-sutra says that this life is especially meant for developing or inquiring about our love with Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This is very important verse for understanding the aim of life. Jivasya tattva-jijnasa. Not that simply economic development for sense gratification. Tattva-jijnasa. What is the value of life? That is the main business|This is very important verse for understanding the aim of life. Jivasya tattva-jijnasa. Not that simply economic development for sense gratification. Tattva-jijnasa. What is the value of life? That is the main business.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Your only business is to understand what you are, what God is, what is this world, what is your relationship. This is your main business. This is your main business. Not that you earn money and employ it for sense gratification|Your only business is to understand what you are, what God is, what is this world, what is your relationship. This is your main business. This is your main business. Not that you earn money and employ it for sense gratification.]]

=== Escaping the Cycle of Birth and Death ===
As long as the spirit soul remains attached to the material world, it is forced to repeatedly accept new physical bodies, enduring the endless cycle of birth, disease, old age, and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that intelligent persons must recognize the inherent miseries of material existence. Rather than trying to find permanent comfort in a temporary place, the primary focus of human life must be learning how to conquer death and escape the material world entirely.

* [[Vaniquotes:Our main business is in the human form of life how to get out of this material world. They do not know. They not only create family but also society, community, nation, In this way we are embarrassed|Our main business is in the human form of life how to get out of this material world. They do not know. They not only create family but also society, community, nation, In this way we are embarrassed.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our main business is how to stop the cycle of birth and death - no more accepting the body. That is answered here, as Kapiladeva said, na anyatra mad bhagavatah pradhana-purusesvarat|Our main business is how to stop the cycle of birth and death - no more accepting the body. That is answered here, as Kapiladeva said, na anyatra mad bhagavatah pradhana-purusesvarat.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:That is our main business, how to get out of this material body of skins and bones. That is real business|That is our main business, how to get out of this material body of skins and bones. That is real business.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Highly situated person in knowledge, his main business was how to conquer death. Now, at the present moment, that question has become subordinate thing only|Highly situated person in knowledge, his main business was how to conquer death. Now, at the present moment, that question has become subordinate thing only.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:So long we are in the material world, the so-called happiness and distress will come and go, but our, the human life, the endeavor should be how to find out or revive our relationship with God. That is our main business|So long we are in the material world, the so-called happiness and distress will come and go, but our, the human life, the endeavor should be how to find out or revive our relationship with God. That is our main business.]]

=== Awakening Our Relationship with God ===
A human being cannot claim ignorance as an excuse for neglecting spiritual duties. Just as a citizen must obey the laws of the state, every soul is obligated to follow the supreme laws of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda pointed out that while attending to the basic necessities of eating and sleeping is required, these activities must never eclipse the central goal of life: cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness and reviving our dormant love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

* [[Vaniquotes:Ignorance is no excuse. If there is law and if you do not know the law, and you commit offense, that is no excuse, that you do not know the law. Similarly, human life is meant for understanding God. That is the main business of human life|Ignorance is no excuse. If there is law and if you do not know the law, and you commit offense, that is no excuse, that you do not know the law. Similarly, human life is meant for understanding God. That is the main business of human life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Of course, we require a living place and eating materials and sex arrangement or defense arrangement. That is required. You do that. But don't forget your main business. Then you are cats and dogs. Your main business is God realization|Of course, we require a living place and eating materials and sex arrangement or defense arrangement. That is required. You do that. But don't forget your main business. Then you are cats and dogs. Your main business is God realization.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him|The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The main business is that one must know God. It is not that because I approach some person and he did not know, he could give me the right knowledge of God, then I give up this idea of knowing God. No. That will not..., that is not good for human life|The main business is that one must know God. It is not that because I approach some person and he did not know, he could give me the right knowledge of God, then I give up this idea of knowing God. No. That will not..., that is not good for human life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Since our main business is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can render service from any of the above-mentioned platforms of love - dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa and madhurya-rasa|Since our main business is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can render service from any of the above-mentioned platforms of love - dasya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vatsalya-rasa and madhurya-rasa.]]

=== The Constitutional Position of Service ===
According to the teachings of Lord Caitanya, the eternal identity of every living entity is to be a servant of Kṛṣṇa (''jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa''). Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that our material designations—whether we act as a ''brāhmaṇa'', a ''śūdra'', a businessman, or a student—are entirely secondary. The true measure of a person's life is how perfectly they align their occupational duties with the supreme order of Kṛṣṇa, accepting His words without hesitation.

* [[Vaniquotes:Because we are not meant for this service. We are, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches, jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa (CC Madhya 20.108-109). Our main business is to serve Krsna|Because we are not meant for this service. We are, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches, jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa (CC Madhya 20.108-109). Our main business is to serve Krsna.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Accept Krsna as He says. That's all. Finished. That is the main business. Our philosophy is simple because we take it, Krsna's word, as it is, that's all. And we believe it firmly|Accept Krsna as He says. That's all. Finished. That is the main business. Our philosophy is simple because we take it, Krsna's word, as it is, that's all. And we believe it firmly.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As a Krsna consciousness person, he can act like anything by the order of Krsna. He can act as a brahmana, he can act as a sudra, because his main business is to carry out Krsna's order|As a Krsna consciousness person, he can act like anything by the order of Krsna. He can act as a brahmana, he can act as a sudra, because his main business is to carry out Krsna's order.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The business is that we have to increase our attachment for God. This is our main business. We are attached to so many things. That is material life|The business is that we have to increase our attachment for God. This is our main business. We are attached to so many things. That is material life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:You may do anything as your occupational duty, but the real life is that you have to awaken your dormant Krsna consciousness, become eager to understand about Krsna. That is main business|You may do anything as your occupational duty, but the real life is that you have to awaken your dormant Krsna consciousness, become eager to understand about Krsna. That is main business.]]

=== The Illusion of Material Improvement ===
Many people believe that the ultimate goal of civilization is to improve the standard of living through technological and scientific advancements. Śrīla Prabhupāda dismantled this illusion by explaining that no amount of material adjustment can solve the fundamental problems of life. If a person spends their entire existence striving for better sense gratification while neglecting their spiritual development, their human life is considered a complete failure.

* [[Vaniquotes:Because our main business is sense gratification. So we cannot enjoy all these senses fully in one kind of body. There is some defect. Just like we are trying to gratify our senses by flying to another planet, moon planet|Because our main business is sense gratification. So we cannot enjoy all these senses fully in one kind of body. There is some defect. Just like we are trying to gratify our senses by flying to another planet, moon planet.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:And what is the main business of material nature? Just to beat you with shoes. That is nature. Therefore we are suffering in this material world. Because we have taken shelter of the material nature|And what is the main business of material nature? Just to beat you with shoes. That is nature. Therefore we are suffering in this material world. Because we have taken shelter of the material nature.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to know what is the car, that is secondary; that is not your main business. The main business is how to utilize the car and go to my destination. That is intelligence|If you want to know what is the car, that is secondary; that is not your main business. The main business is how to utilize the car and go to my destination. That is intelligence.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Our main business is to become Krsna conscious. That is the main business of human life. If we waste our time striving for material improvement and forget to chant Hare Krsna, that will be a great loss|Our main business is to become Krsna conscious. That is the main business of human life. If we waste our time striving for material improvement and forget to chant Hare Krsna, that will be a great loss.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Your main business is if you want to make success, your life, then save time for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is proper utilization of life. That does not depend on destiny|Your main business is if you want to make success, your life, then save time for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is proper utilization of life. That does not depend on destiny.]]

=== The Primary Duty of Preachers ===
For those who are spiritually advanced and have taken up the mission of delivering others, their priorities are even more focused. Śrīla Prabhupāda established that the sole business of an ''ācārya'', a ''sannyāsī'', or an active preacher is to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness worldwide. While they may engage in various activities or defeat opposing philosophers in debate, their central and unwavering mission is to introduce the chanting of the holy names through the ''saṅkīrtana'' movement.

* [[Vaniquotes:Although Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in disciplic succession can defeat all kinds of learned scholars, scientists and philosophers in arguments but their main business as preachers is to introduce sankirtana everywhere|Although Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in disciplic succession can defeat all kinds of learned scholars, scientists and philosophers in arguments but their main business as preachers is to introduce sankirtana everywhere.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:That (philanthropic work, some hospitalizing) is not the duty of a sannyasi. A sannyasi, a renounced order of life, his main business is to spread Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. That is his real business|That (philanthropic work, some hospitalizing) is not the duty of a sannyasi. A sannyasi, a renounced order of life, his main business is to spread Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. That is his real business.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am getting gradually older, therefore even if I remain in your country, I shall restrain my moving and my main business will be henceforward to train you all my disciples for preaching work. I think you will approve of my program|I am getting gradually older, therefore even if I remain in your country, I shall restrain my moving and my main business will be henceforward to train you all my disciples for preaching work. I think you will approve of my program.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Whichever position one can find himself suitable, he can accept that. But the main business is krsna-tattva-vetta, and preach the cult all over the world, sei guru haya. Guru means preacher, to enlighten. One who can enlighten, he is guru|Whichever position one can find himself suitable, he can accept that. But the main business is krsna-tattva-vetta, and preach the cult all over the world, sei guru haya. Guru means preacher, to enlighten. One who can enlighten, he is guru.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Just like I have come to your country, and I have no interest for sight seeing, but my main business is preaching Krishna Consciousness|Just like I have come to your country, and I have no interest for sight seeing, but my main business is preaching Krishna consciousness.]]

=== Conclusion ===
In a world profoundly distracted by the temporary flashes of material gain and bodily comfort, Śrīla Prabhupāda's message is a crucial call to sanity. He uncompromisingly reminds us that we are not the material body, and our stay here is brief. By realigning our priorities and making Kṛṣṇa consciousness our absolute main business, we perfectly utilize the rare human form of life and secure our eternal return to the spiritual world.

=== 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:Main_Business|Main Business]]. 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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