Conditioned Souls Must Accept Material Bodies

The plight of the conditioned soul is defined by the lack of freedom; he is forced to accept a material body dictated by the laws of nature. Driven by the desire to enjoy matter and bound by the reactions of previous work (karma), the living entity wanders through the universe, accepting one form after another—from the highest demigods to the lowest species. This cycle of acceptance is perpetuated by ignorance, leading the soul to identify the body as the self.

Forced by the Laws of Nature

The conditioned soul does not choose his birth freely; he is compelled by higher authorities. Just as a prisoner must accept the cell assigned to him, the soul must accept a body that corresponds to his mental state and past activities.

• A conditioned soul has no free choice; he has to accept a certain type of body according to his karma.
• The conditioned soul is forced to accept a particular type of body according to his karma given by the laws of material nature under the direction of the Supreme Lord.
• In the material world, every conditioned soul changes his material body again and again, but when the spirit soul is purified of all material coverings, there is no longer a chance of his accepting a material body.

Identification with the Body

Once the soul accepts a material form, he becomes covered by illusion. He mistakenly accepts the body as his true identity and the material world as his field of enjoyment. This false acceptance is the root of material existence.

• Just as a householder, although different from the identity of his house, thinks his house to be identical with him, so the conditioned soul, due to ignorance, accepts the body to be himself, although the body is actually different from the soul.
• Only when a conditioned soul accepts the body as himself does he feel the effects of chastisement or praise.

The Only Remedy

To break the cycle of forced birth and death, the conditioned soul must voluntarily change what he accepts. Instead of accepting the dictates of the mind and senses, he must accept the guidance of a self-realized spiritual master and the lotus feet of the Lord.

• Actually his (the conditioned soul's) only business is to accept the spiritual master, the guru, and through him he must accept the lotus feet or the Lord.
• Narada said, "The conditioned souls, who have now been put into the blind well of material existence, can get out of this eternal captivity only by accepting Your (Krsna's) lotus feet."

Conclusion

The material life of a conditioned soul is a history of accepting temporary bodies, temporary pains, and temporary pleasures. However, this forced acceptance can be ended. When one agrees to accept the authority of the Vedas and the service of the Supreme Lord, the cycle stops, and there is no longer a chance of accepting a material body again.

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