Destiny of Living Entities According to Karma
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the destiny of all living entities within the material world is inextricably bound by the laws of karma. Every action performed in the material conception of life generates a reaction, forcing the eternal soul to accept various types of bodies and situations in future births. This article explores how the living entity wanders through the universe, driven by past deeds, and how the Supreme Lord awards specific destinations based on individual merit and desire.
Transmigration Through Different Species
The fundamental principle of material existence is that the spirit soul changes bodies just as a person changes clothes. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one's present body is a result of past activities, and one's future body is determined by present actions; thus, a person may be a king in this life and an animal in the next.
- According to your karma, you have been fixed up that, "You shall eat like this, you shall sleep like this, you'll have sex life like this, and you will be able to defend like this, not more than that." That is not possible. That is called destiny.
- In this life one may be a king, and in the next life one may be a dog, according to karma. The spirit soul is in a deep slumber caused by the force of material nature. He is put in one type of condition and again changed into another type.
- According to the law of karma, a man takes his birth in a high family, or becomes rich, or very well educated, or very beautiful because of good work in the past.
- Suppose I am now human being, and I change my dress to become a demigod, or I change my dress to become a dog. It does not mean that I am finished. I have simply changed my dress, according to my karma.
Wandering Throughout the Universe
The living entities are not stationary; they are constantly traveling through different planetary systems based on the weight of their pious or impious credits. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this wandering as a cycle where souls are sometimes elevated to heavenly realms and at other times degraded to hellish conditions or lower species.
- According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems.
- According to karma, the living entity sometimes goes up and sometimes goes down. He wanders in this way, thinking how he can become materially happy and satisfy his senses. The sastras say that we should not do this, we should endeavor to understand Krsna.
- Soul is one - that is part and parcel of Krsna - but according to karma, according to desire for material enjoyment, we have taken different dresses, and we are wandering all over the universe, according to our karma.
Unalterable Destiny of Happiness and Distress
A crucial point in understanding karma is accepting that one's quota of happiness and distress is already predestined at birth. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that material endeavors cannot change this destiny; just as distress comes without invitation, happiness also arrives automatically according to the laws of nature.
- According to our karma, our life holds some portion of happiness and some portion of distress. Therefore, if distress comes without invitation, happiness will also come without invitation.
- If you can earn money, you can make a good bank balance, that does not mean that you will get bodily comfort. That is not. That is already fixed up, according to your karma. So don't waste your time for improving bodily comforts.
- Philanthropists and altruists do not realize that it is impossible to improve people's material conditions. Material conditions are already established by the superior administration according to one's karma. They cannot be changed.
Sanction of the Supreme Authority
Although the living entity acts according to personal desire, the results are awarded solely under the supervision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that from the highest demigod like Brahmā down to an insignificant ant, every being receives their body and situation through the Lord's sanction in accordance with their past deeds.
- All living entities are created by the Supreme Lord according to their past deeds. This includes Brahma and his sons like Daksa, the periodical heads like Vaivasvata Manu and the demigods like Indra, Candra and Varuna.
- No one can act independently; rather, everyone acts under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore victory and defeat come according to the results of one's karma, and the judgment is given by the Supreme Lord.
- The very short duration of the life of the mosquito and the very long lifetime of Lord Brahma are both awarded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to the results of their karma.
Breaking the Chain of Reactions
While the law of karma is rigid and exacting, it is not inescapable for those who surrender to the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that devotional service destroys the reactions of past activities, offering the soul a path back to the spiritual world, whereas ordinary material life simply perpetuates the cycle of birth and death.
- According to the law of karma, everyone is destined to suffer or enjoy according to a certain material standard, but the mercy of Lord Krsna is so powerful that the Lord can change all the reactions of one’s past karma, or fruitive activities.
- In the human life, if we prepare ourselves by beginning the activity of our spiritual life, we return to our real life and attain perfection. Otherwise, according to karma, svabhava, prakrti and so on, our varieties of life and activity continue.
- Everything takes place according to one's past individual karma but those who are in Krishna Consciousness their resultant action of karma becomes summarized. Professor Dosa took initiation, or shelter of Krishna. He will always be protected.
Conclusion
The teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda regarding the destiny of living entities provide a sobering reality check for those entangled in material existence. Karma is the impartial force that determines the soul's journey through various bodies and planetary systems, awarding happiness and distress based on past actions. However, the ultimate destiny of the living entity is not meant to be perpetual wandering in the material world. By taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa and engaging in devotional service, one can transcend the rigid laws of karma and return to their original, eternal position in the spiritual world.
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 According to Karma. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.