Conditioned Souls Must Accept Material Bodies
The defining characteristic of a conditioned soul is his subjection to the stringent laws of material nature. Unlike the liberated soul or the Supreme Lord, the conditioned living entity has no independence regarding his embodiment. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because of the desire to enjoy matter and the accumulation of karma, the soul is "forced to accept" a specific body. This acceptance is not a joyful choice but a mandatory imprisonment. This article explores the mechanism of this forced acceptance, the illusion of bodily identification, and the means to escape this perpetual cycle.
Forced by the Laws of Nature
The conditioned soul often prides himself on his freedom, but spiritually, he has none. He is bound by the laws of karma. Just as a criminal is forced into a specific prison cell, the living entity is forced into a specific body—whether human, animal, or plant—based on his previous activities. This precarious condition leaves no room for negotiation; one must accept the body awarded by the higher authority of nature.
- 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.
- Ignorant personalities, or conditioned souls, have no choice but to accept their precarious condition under material nature. The only remedy is to surrender to Visnu and always pray to be excused.
Illusion of Enjoyment and Identity
Why must the soul accept these material conditions? The root cause is the desire to lord it over material nature. Driven by this "strong desire to enjoy," the soul accepts one body after another. In this process, he falls into the trap of false ego, mistaking the external apartment (the body) for his true self. This ignorance leads to the duality of attachment and aversion, friends and enemies, further entangling him in the web of māyā.
- 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. Then he determines one person to be his enemy and another his friend and wants to chastise the enemy and welcome the friend.
- Every living being within this material world has a strong desire to enjoy matter to his fullest satisfaction. For this purpose, the conditioned soul must accept one body after another, and thus his strongly fixed fruitive desires continue.
- Voluntarily we have accepted this material body, but actually we are spirit souls who should not have accepted it. When and how we accepted it cannot be traced. No one can trace the history of when the conditioned soul first accepted the material body.
Contrast with the Lord
It is crucial to distinguish between the conditioned soul's acceptance of a body and the Lord's appearance. When Kṛṣṇa appears as the Boar incarnation (Varāha), He is not forced by karma. His form is transcendental and accepted by His own sweet will. The conditioned soul, however, may accept the body of a hog due to his "faulty work" and association with the modes of nature.
- A conditioned soul is forced to accept a particular type of body by the higher authority of material laws, but here (in SB 3.20.8) it is clearly said that the Lord was not forced to accept the form of a boar by the external power.
- The conditioned soul accepts a particular type of body, such as the body of a hog, by his work and by the superior authority of material nature. But when Lord Krsna appears in the incarnation of a boar, He is not the same kind of hog as an ordinary animal.
The Remedy: Accepting the Spiritual Master
To stop the involuntary acceptance of material bodies, the soul must voluntarily accept spiritual authority. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that the only business of a conditioned soul is to accept the spiritual master and the lotus feet of the Lord. By doing so, he is guided by the Supersoul and the scriptures, becoming purified of material coverings. This voluntary submission breaks the chain of karma and ensures that there is "no longer a chance of his accepting a material body."
- 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.
- Lord Caitanya has given instructions by explaining that when a conditioned soul is accepted by the mercy of the spiritual master and is guided by the Supersoul and the various Vedic scriptures, he becomes enlightened and makes progress in spiritual realization.
- 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. Thus, You are the only shelter of all conditioned souls."
- 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.
Conclusion
The predicament of the conditioned soul is a state of helplessness disguised as independence. While he thinks he is the enjoyer, he is actually being kicked by the laws of material nature, forced to accept birth after birth in various species. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions illuminate the path out of this blind well: one must cease accepting the dictates of the mind and senses and instead accept the guidance of the guru and Kṛṣṇa. Through this singular act of surrender, the forced cycle of material acceptance ends, and the eternal life of bliss begins.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Acceptance of a Conditioned Soul. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.