Eternal Occupational Duty

In the material world, identities and duties are constantly shifting. One may be a father, a professional, or a national of a certain country, but these designations end with the body. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that there is a duty that transcends the body and time. This is called sanātana-dharma, or the eternal occupational duty. It is based on the permanent characteristic of the living entity: the propensity to serve.

Definition of Sanātana-dharma

The word sanātana refers to that which has no beginning and no end. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that God is eternal, the living entity is eternal, and their relationship is also eternal. The exchange of love and service between these two eternal beings constitutes the true religion of the soul. Unlike sectarian faiths or temporary religious designations that can be changed, this duty is inherent in the very existence of the living being.

• Every living entity is eternal, sanatana. God is also eternal, and we can live with God in His sanatana-dhama, His eternal abode. This reciprocation is called sanatana-dharma, the eternal nature and duty of the living being.
• Krishna is eternal, and we all living entities, being parts and parcels of Krishna, are also eternal. And the reciprocal exchange of love between the two eternals is called "eternal occupational duty" or Sanatan Dharma.
• In the Vedic system it is called sanatana-dharma. Sanatana-dharma means that eternal occupational duty which you cannot cease.

Service Mentality

Service is an unavoidable fact of existence. Whether one is a supreme leader or a subordinate, everyone is serving someone or something—be it their family, their country, or simply the demands of their own senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies this "mentality of service" as the eternal occupational duty. The problem in material life is not the act of service itself, but that it is misplaced. When this service spirit is directed toward the Supreme Whole, Kṛṣṇa, it becomes the perfection of dharma.

• Even though one's body or one's superficial religion may change, every living entity is always engaged in the service of someone. Therefore, the mentality of service is called the eternal occupational duty.
• This duty, this eternal occupational duty, is there in every living entity, the service spirit. But the service spirit is now misplaced on account of our conditioned stage. So when it is properly placed, service, that is our dharma.
• The parts and the Whole being eternally related, it is the eternal duty of the parts to render service unto the Whole.

Inquiry and Realization

The human form of life is specifically meant for inquiring into this eternal nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that it is not enough to simply accept a spiritual master officially or blindly; one must be genuinely inquisitive about "eternal duty" (sad-dharma). This inquiry distinguishes a human from an animal and leads to the realization of one's constitutional position as a servant of Kṛṣṇa, as taught in the Bhagavad-gītā.

• First beginning is to accept a bona fide spiritual master. Adau gurvasrayam. Sad-dharma-prcchat. So it is not that official accepting a spiritual master, but one should be very much inquisitive to understand about eternal duty or eternal activities.
• That is meditation, "What is my eternal function? What is my eternal duty? Where is my eternal home?" That is Krsna consciousness.
• Bhagavad-gita is eternal because it teaches what is your relationship with God, what is your eternal duty to God, and what is the ultimate end of life. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita.

Conclusion

The conclusion of all scriptures is that the living entity is the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that this is the sum and substance of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Sanātana means eternal, and kṛṣṇa-dāsa means servant of Kṛṣṇa; therefore, the eternal occupational duty of the human being is to serve the Lord. As confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, this service is the constitutional position (svarūpa) of every living being. By surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, one fulfills their eternal duty and achieves the ultimate perfection of life.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Eternal Duty. 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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