Mechanism of Karma and Bodily Change
The transmigrating soul travels through the universe, changing bodies as one changes dress. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this journey is not random but is governed by the precise mechanism of karma. Every action performed in the human form generates a reaction, which determines the specific type of body one must inhabit in the next life. This process is impartial and automatic, functioning under the supervision of the Supreme Lord and His agents.
Forced by Superior Supervision
A central tenet of Vedic knowledge is that the conditioned soul has no independence regarding their future birth once they have acted. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the phrase karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa—by the supervision of superior authority, one gets a body. Just as a criminal is forced into a prison cell by the state authorities, the living entity is forced to enter a particular womb by the laws of nature.
- A conditioned soul has no free choice; he has to accept a certain type of body according to his karma.
- Karmana daiva-netrena jantur deha upapatti. Karmana, by our work, and by the supervision of the supreme power we are getting different types of body.
- The next body has to be immediately accepted according to karma. One will be forced to accept a certain type of body, and protesting will not help. That is the stringent law of nature.
Subtle Blueprint
The mechanism of transfer from one body to another involves the subtle body—mind, intelligence, and false ego. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the mind records all desires and activities. At the time of death, this subtle conception carries the soul to a new gross body that fits those desires. Thus, the activities we perform today are actively preparing the "subtle blueprint" for our future form.
- According to the activities of the present body, one prepares another subtle body. And according to the subtle body, one attains another gross body. This is the process of material existence.
- The living entity attains a particular type of gross body in accordance with his past activities and mental condition.
- This is called the struggle for existence. One kind of fruitive activity causes the living being to take one form of body, and because of actions performed in that body, another body is created.
Varieties of Entanglement
The results of karma manifest in the 8,400,000 species of life. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that from the exalted position of Lord Brahmā down to an insignificant germ in stool, everyone is accepting a body according to their work. Pious activities may award a body of a demigod or a wealthy human, while sinful activities degrade one to animal species. In all cases, the body is a result of karma, not a permanent identity.
- Every living entity, according to karma, his past desires and activities, gets a particular type of body, from that of Brahma to that of a microbe or germ in stool.
- Either you are born in a very big family or nation, or either you have got a very advanced academic education, at the time of death your work will be judged and you will get another body according to that work.
- According to his last karma, or action, one gets this body to enjoy, or to suffer. That is the process of birth and death.
Machine and the Proprietor
Ultimately, the body is described as a machine or a vehicle supplied by material nature (māyā) to fulfill the living entity's desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the analogy of a car: just as a person purchases a car according to the money they possess, the soul receives a body according to the "price" they have paid in karma. The soul is the passenger, nature is the supplier, and the Supreme Lord is the sanctioning authority.
- Maya creates a car for you, a carrying conveyance, this body. So that conveyance is according to karma. So if you act piously in this life, then next life you get good body.
- The body is just like a machine, and according to the living entity's karma, he is offered a particular type of machine to move here and there under the control of material nature.
Conclusion
Understanding the mechanism of karma and bodily change is crucial for breaking the cycle of birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda urges us to realize that as long as we are engaged in fruitive activities, we are forcing ourselves to accept another material body. The solution is to stop acting for sense gratification and engage in the service of Kṛṣṇa, which produces no karmic reaction and leads the soul back to its original spiritual form.
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 Accepting Bodies 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.