“Every one of us, we are spirit soul, part and parcel of God”

Hare Krishna to All —
Pranams
Glories to Prabhupada

Below is a very concise explanation by Srila Prabhupada of how the soul , originally pure, interacts originally with matter. Also how to re purify that same soul very easily by chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

Los Angeles, October 1, 1972  Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.26
[…] Every one of us, we are spirit soul, part and parcel of God, but we have been now covered by the material qualities. So the example is given… I think I have several times recited this example. When the spirit soul is separated from God… Just like a small sparks is separated from the whole fire, (knocking sound) falls down… What is that sound?

So the sparks falls down on the ground. So there are three possibilities. If the sparks falls on dry grass, then immediately there is little fire, because grass is dry.

And if it falls down on the green vegetation, then it is not immediately extinguished. There is little heat. But if the sparks falls down in the water, then immediately extinguished. So as soon as we are separated from God…
We are all parts and parcel of God. Separation means when I want to imitate God. I want to become exactly… Because enviousness, due to
enviousness… Iccha-dvesa samutthena. When we become envious…

“Oh, God is enjoyer, so why not I become an enjoyer?” “Yes,” God says, “you become enjoyer.” So then he falls down in this material world.

So if he falls down or contacts the mode of goodness, that is
considered the fire spark falling on dry grass. Dry grass means…
Goodness means one who is situated almost on the spiritual platform.

Just like the brahminical qualification: truthfulness, controlling the
senses, controlling the mind, simplicity, full of knowledge, practical
application of knowledge in life, and completely faith in God. That is
brahminical qualification.

Satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam.

And passion means strong desire to enjoy this material world.

Generally, the kings, the politicians, they are very much passionate to encroach upon other’s property, other nations, like that. And ignorance means they are neither passionate nor good. “All right, let me eat something and sleep.” That’s all. That is ignorance. They are satisfied if they get good opportunity for sleeping. That’s all. That is ignorance.

So these three qualities are there within this material world. And one has to transcend these three qualities. And that can be done…
Anyone can do that. Krishna does not say that only the person who is in
goodness, who has the brahminical platform, he can be engaged.
Actually, he can be engaged, not in the passion.

But if you be engaged in devotional service, then immediately you transcend all the qualities. You become more than brahmana- Vaisnava. Vaisnava means he is transcendental to the brahminical qualities also. But if you do not maintain even brahminical qualities, then where you are a Vaisnava?
So to become a Vaisnava is not so easy thing, because it is transcendental to the brahminical quality. But it is very easy.

Lord Caitanya has made it easy, provided you stick to the principles. If
you simply chant regularly Hare Krishna… This is the special facility
for the people in this age. You can remain steady in transcendental
position.

Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam.

As soon as you remain in the offenseless chanting platform, immediately you become transcendental to these material qualities. Very simple. You don’t require to study Vedanta. The Vedanta is there. It reveals,

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah

The Vedanta philosophy will reveal automatically. You haven’t got to
study. But provided you have got unflinching faith in God and
spiritual master, all this Vedanta knowledge will be revealed within
you. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau.
Guru-krsna-krpaya.

Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that you can make advancement in spiritual life by the mercy of Krishna and guru. You don’t try to overlap guru and get Krishna’s mercy immediately. That is not possible. That is not possible. You have to go through the proper channel. Anyone who is thinking that “I shall make spiritual advancement without guru,” he is wrongly thinking. It is not possible.

Just like if you want to see a big man, you have to go through the servant of that man. You have to take permission. The servant may say, “Sir, such and such man wants to see you.

He is very nice man, appears to be a good man.” “Oh,” the master says, “he is good man? All right, bring him.” By the recommendation of the servant.
Therefore we sing daily, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. By the
mercy of guru, immediately we become, get the mercy of God. […] Full Lecture

Conclusions —
The soul is compared to sparks of fire which fall down on either dry grass, ground, or water.

If the spark falls on something dry, that spark can re-ignite itself more quickly than the others.

Goodness means almost the spiritual platform,or brahminical life. One must have all brahminical qualities before he can become Vaisnava, so it is not a cheap thing.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said one need not be even brahmana, as long as one chants without offense, he or she transcends all the 3 modes of nature immediately and becomes Vaisnava or transcendental to this material world.

By having complete faith in Guru and God, one can chant purely, but don’t try to overstep first serving guru, because no one can go to God without going thru guru first. Jesus Christ said this (only thru me can the father be reached) Sri Caitanya said it, and Srila Prabhupada said it.
But modern day Iskcon they say- no these great personalities are not right, because WE say, you have to go to God first, then on down to guru.
For most normally thinking people, they accept the words of great souls and not foolish ones.

Hare Krishna
Damaghosa das