What does it mean when it says 'the soul does nothing'?
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What does it mean when it says 'the soul does nothing'?
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Hare Krsna Prabhuji
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate (bg 3.27)
Here, Lord Krishna says that the activities that happen are done by the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas, tamas) through the medium of the body, where the body is also a part of material nature . Everything that the soul does is think, and decide the action according to the influence of the modes of material nature, and then nature does the work. So here, we souls only think, decide and witness, and everything else that is involved in implementing the actual work to happen, are parts of material nature, ex: body, mind, intellect, hands, eyes etc. So, it's not so that the soul does NOTHING, for if it does nothing, then the fruits of actions should not be put upon it. Instead, the soul plays an important role of thinking, deciding the action. Hence, the soul reaps the fruits of actions because it has thought, and decided. However, when it comes to executing the activites, the soul indeed does nothing but witnesses. This is what, 'the soul does nothing' means. When the soul thinks itself to be the body out of ignorance, then it thinks that, "IAM THE DOER" which causes pride, ego, etc., which eventually leads to the downfall of the soul. This is why Bhagawān says, ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā, meaning soul under ignorance and false ego.
Hope this helps.
Hare Kṛṣṇa.
thanks Aashish
https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/2/23/
The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind
https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/2/24
This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.
Hare Krsna
It would be helpful in answering if proper context is given. Which shloka , in which scripture did you find ' the soul does nothing' ?
Hare Krsna
Gita - Chapter 13, verse 30 :)
Hare Krsna
It has been covered here - https://iskcondesiretree.com/forum/topics/what-is-the-definition-of...
If there is something specific is to be calrified, please mention.
Hare Krsna