2 June, 2025

Goal of the soul

• Prabhupad: The difference between animal and human life - is that human life is with responsibility - The ability to respond correctly.
• One whose life is dedicated to devotion is called a sura.
• One whose life is dedicated to sense gratification is called an asura - eating sleeping mating defending.
• Commonality between sura and asura is that both are fearful. Less eating, less sleeping, less mating, less defending for a sura but we are fearful of death, old age, disease, payments, debts, bills, etc.
• However, a sura should remember that we should business in this lifetime by a simple process of surrendering to Krishna, chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra, feasting prasadam and serving devotees.
• Yugadharma is to chant Hare Krishna maha mantra. If we can do this properly, we can be free from all fears and anxieties to fulfill our responsibilities.
• Prabhupad: The guru and teachers are compared to a boatman who helps us cross the ocean of material existence to the desired destination in the right direction - spiritual realization.
• Animals do not have higher intelligence. Therefore, animals are not responsible for their actions and do not have this higher facility of intelligence and responsibility.
• If we do not use our intelligence to understand the purpose of life, we are no better than animals and we will go back to life and death cycle.
• Krishna has given us the facilities of intelligence for higher purpose of life.
• Human life is meant for attaining highest perfection of life - to go back to Godhead Sri Krishna. It is not meant to work like asses.
• Our activities should be moulded in such a way that it moves use one step at a time, to go back to Godhead Sri Krishna.
• Wherever a pure devotee goes, regardless of any circumstances, they are not worried and always in the service of Krishna.
• Gauranga Darshan prabhu: Medicine for all our problems is sravanam and kirtanam.
• Sannivasa Prabhu: The so called economic development - More material advancement leads to more fear. This is the second change.

4 June, 2025

• What is it that I get if I do Bhakti? Prabhupada explains it here and Krishna explains it in Bhagavad Gita.
• If we do not finish our Bhakti, we will be born in an aristocratic family, or a family of brahmanas or devotees.
• In both of them, however, there is a risk. We will still have a freewill to choose and that can be misused in the next life.
• Rather than depending on the next life, we should try to finish our Bhakti in this life itself. That is the best option and intelligent person recognizes this to focus on Bhakti in this life. What if the conditions are not favorable in the next life? - This is the phalasruti of this verse.
• suras - Devotees spend lifetime in devotional service, chanting, hearing, serving devotees.
• asuras - They go to hellish planets, they are born in lower species and then after many births, they get a human form again. They are not able to understand the purpose of life and they are always in ignorance.
• 7 problems of human life - birth, death, old age, disease, payments, debts, bills. janma mṛtyu jarā vyādhi adhyatmik adibhautik
• We are so busy in our material life that we forget the real purpose of life. Devotees should not be like that. We should not be busy in material life and forget the real purpose of life.

My Summary

• Prabhupad: The difference between animal and human life - is that human life is with responsibility - The ability to respond correctly.
• One whose life is dedicated to devotion is called a sura.
• One whose life is dedicated to sense gratification is called an asura - eating, sleeping, mating, defending.

Summary:

This verse warns that those who neglect the soul—failing to pursue self-realization—will fall into asurya (godless) realms, full of ignorance and darkness.

Human life is distinct from animal life due to its spiritual responsibilities. Those who pursue spiritual realization are called suras (godly), while those who ignore or reject it are asuras (ungodly). The human form is a rare opportunity, earned after millions of births, and is compared to a well-equipped boat meant to cross the ocean of material existence, guided by scriptures and saintly teachers.

Failing to use this opportunity for self-realization makes one an ātma-hā—a killer of the soul. Such people become trapped in dark, suffering-filled conditions of existence, or are reborn in lower species, forced to work hard in ignorance.

Modern civilization emphasizes economic development, but this focus—without spiritual purpose—reduces human beings to the level of animals. Even so-called advanced people who reject spiritual duties and prioritize material success are headed toward degradation, regardless of outward appearances or religious posturing.

In contrast, those who sincerely attempt self-realization, even if unsuccessful, are rewarded in their next birth—being born in noble or spiritually inclined families. Therefore, the purpose of human life is not merely to survive or succeed materially, but to solve the deeper problem of repeated birth and death.