soul: conditioned soul

Human life is very rare, and only in this life form can we perform devotional service to the Supreme Lord. The conditioned soul cannot perform devotional service properly because it has many defects. In other yugas (eras), people performed harsh austerities, fire sacrifices, and meditation. In this Kali-yuga, the recommended process is very simple: chanting the Holy Names, but care must be taken not to commit the ten offenses. Guru-bhogi are those gurus who are absorbed in sense gratification...