Engaging in Self-realization - The Duty of Human Life
Engaging in self-realization is not a pastime for the idle; it is the urgent responsibility of every human being. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the body requires maintenance, the primary business of human life is to understand the self and its relationship with the Supreme. This engagement frees one from the temporary entanglements of the material world and situates one in the eternal service of the Absolute Truth.
The Responsibility of the Living Entity
Śrīla Prabhupāda states that every living entity with developed consciousness is searching for self-realization, whether through karma, jñāna, or yoga. However, this pursuit is often overshadowed by family attachment. According to the Vedic principles of sanātana-dharma, one is expected to retire from family life after the age of fifty to dedicate the remainder of their days fully to understanding the self, rather than thinking family affairs are the prime duty.
- Everyone is searching after self-realization in different ways - by karma-yoga, by jnana-yoga, by dhyana-yoga, by raja-yoga, by bhakti-yoga, etc. To engage in self-realization is the responsibility of every living entity developed in consciousness.
- Generally householders think that engaging in family affairs is their prime duty and that self-realization or enlightenment in spiritual knowledge is secondary. Out of compassion only, saintly persons and brahmanas go to householders' homes.
- According to the principles of sanatana-dharma, one must retire from family life after half the duration of life is finished and must engage himself in self-realization.
- One begins as a brahmacari then becomes a grhastha, a vanaprastha and finally a sannyasi to take advantage of the duration of one's life by engaging oneself fully in self-realization.
True Definition: Service to the Whole
Real self-realization is not the false conception of "I am God" or "I am the Whole." Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that because the soul is part and parcel of God, true realization means engaging in the service of the Whole. When one shifts their attention from serving māyā (illusion) to serving Kṛṣṇa, that is the actual point of self-realization.
- Self-realization is when you actually engage yourself in the service of the Lord. That is your self-realization. Because you are part and parcel, your duty is to serve the whole. If you think yourself, "I am whole," that is wrong conception.
- When we come to our spiritual senses, we can understand that we are erroneously engaged in maya's service and that our duty is to engage in Krsna's service. That is self-realization.
- A conditioned soul and a liberated soul may apparently be on the same platform, but factually they are differently engaged, and their attention is always alert, either in sense enjoyment or in self-realization, respectively.
- Unless a person is pure, he can neither understand what the Personality of Godhead is nor engage in His service in love, for devotional service, as stated before, begins from the point of self-realization, when all misgivings of materialistic life are vanquished.
The Role of Scriptures and Devotional Service
The most intelligent method for self-realization is engagement in devotional service, particularly hearing and chanting. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes the importance of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This scripture is specifically meant for the paramahaṁsas—those totally engaged in self-realization. Simply by hearing its topics, one is immediately engaged in the path of self-realization without the need for uncertain speculative processes.
- The most intelligent devotees do not take to any means of self-realization except devotional service and constant engagement in the nine different processes of devotional life, especially hearing and chanting.
- Srimad-Bhagavatam is so made that one becomes at once engaged in the path of self-realization simply by hearing the topics.
- Srimad-Bhagavatam is the natural commentation on the Brahma-sutras compiled by the same author. This Brahma-sutra, or Vedanta-sutra, is meant for those who are already engaged in self-realization.
- Although it (Srimad-Bhagavatam) is especially meant for the paramahamsas, or those who are totally engaged in self-realization, it works into the depths of the hearts of those who may be worldly men.
Personal vs. Impersonal Realization
There are two categories of self-realized souls: those who realize the impersonal Brahman and those who realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that while impersonalists engage in worshiping the effulgence of the Lord, the pure devotees—like the cowherd boys of Vṛndāvana—engage in a personal relationship of friendship with the Lord. This personal engagement is the higher stage of realization.
- Bilvamangala Thakur, in his book Krsna-karnamrta, says, "Let the impersonalists be engaged in the process of transcendental realization by worshiping the impersonal Brahman."
- Neither those engaged in the self-realization of appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, nor those engaged in devotional service while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.
- The word atmarama refers to those who are not interested in the material world but are simply engaged in spiritual realization. Such self-realized persons are generally considered in two categories - impersonal and personal.
- Those who are engaged in self-realization, appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord, and those engaged in devotional service, accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master, are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd boys.
Conclusion
To engage in self-realization is to engage in something permanent (sat). Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that even if one attempts this process but falls short, they are guaranteed a human birth in a pious family to continue their progress. However, for those who fully succeed, the result is complete detachment from even the highest material pleasures and eternal residence in 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 Engaging in Self-realization. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.