How material activity can be spiritualized
the person
who constructs a skyscraper is a materialist, and the person who
constructs a temple of Visnu is atmarama. The materialist tries to
satisfy himself in relation to his body by constructing a skyscraper, but
the devotee tries to satisfy the Superself, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, by constructing the temple. Although both are engaged in the
association of material activities, the devotee is liberated, and the
materialist is conditioned. This is because the devotee, who is
constructing the temple, has fixed his mind upon the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, but the nondevotee, who is constructing the skyscraper, has
his mind fixed in sense gratification. If, while performing any activity,
even in material existence, one’s mind is fixed upon the lotus feet of
the Personality of Godhead, one will not be entangled or conditioned. The
worker in devotional service, in full Krsna consciousness, is always
independent of the influence of material nature.
Srimad Bhagavatam purport 3.27.26