Devotee, Atlanta, March 2, 1975: In the Bible they say that the animals don’t have soul; therefore it’s not the same as killing.
Prabhupada: I do not know whether it is said…expert in calling Bible, but where it is said, he does not know. He is so expert in Bible? How do you know? Now, apart from Bible or any scripture, how do you find that the animal has no soul? How do you consider it?
What is the symptom of having soul? That is very easy, but you do not know. When the soul is gone from the body, it does not move. And when the soul is there, it moves. This is the understanding of soul. So do you think the animal does not move? The animal has no blood? The animal has no bone?
How do you say that animal has no soul? This is foolishness. The soul is there. Even one small ant, there is soul. Otherwise how it is moving? So long the soul is there, the dull material body is moving. And as soon as the soul is gone, you will cry, “My father has gone away.” Why your father gone? It is lying there. Why do you say, “My father has gone away”? This is ignorance.
We do not know what is soul. We see the body. So long I have seen the body of my father. Now the soul has gone. I am crying, “My father has gone away.” But did you see your father? “Yes, that body.” The body is there. Why you are crying? So it is very common sense affair to understand where there is soul. A big stone, a big mountain, it cannot move although it is so big.
And a small ant is moving. Why? There is soul. So how can you say the animals have no soul? This is ignorance. Tatha dehantara-praptih. The soul being within the body means it is changing the body from babyhood to childhood, childhood to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, like that. And if the child is born dead—no more change of body. That is the proof that there is soul.
Soul means the living force which is moving the body. That is soul. How you can say the animal has no soul? Everyone has soul. Even the grass has soul, because it is growing, changing body…simple thing. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12] Because all dirty things are within our heart. On account of dirty things we are thinking that “I have got soul, and the animal has no soul.”
This is due to dirtiness of the heart. So if you chant Hare Krishna, the heart will be cleansed. Just like a mirror with a dust, you cannot see, but if this dust is cleansed, then you can see your face very nicely. Similarly, because on account of material contamination our heart is unclean, we cannot see things as they are, but the chanting process will cleanse your heart, and then you will see everything in order. Then you will not say the animal has no soul. Full Lecture
This means that a cell has soul as well and that means so many souls (may be millions or more) in our body.I read somewhere that consciousness is the sign of life(soul). This is facinatig I am soul and my body carries so many souls. Is this the right way of looking and understanding it. Somebody please elaborate on it
Thank you and Hare Krishna.
This a interesting letter of devotee Gaurahari…
this is a philosopy of seeing things that i Franco follow
this to be a peace maker.
I feeling very greatfull lately with the most important realization in my life about how ineffective it is to dwell on the faults and deficiencies of various types of vaishnavas. How can we expect to get Lord Caitanya’s merciful love which was given to everyone without consideration of their qualifications, faults or even virtues but was only held back from one class of individuals:Those who spend their valuable time finding and dwelling on the faults, conditionings and deficiencies in others. The valuable jewel is attained so easily by dropping this faultfinding propensity! Practically just honor everyone as a servant of Krishna and stop meddling in the business character flaws in Gurus and disciples of different societies. The ridged boundaries erected by these different vaishnava societies will be dropped because of not being attacked by so many faultfinders and real respectful loving relationships between vaishnavas will flow between them.
Now that we know that Krishna is God and Guru is glorious lets drop the level of judgement and interpretive distinctions and enter into the slipstream of Gauranga’s loving grace which does not sit in the seat of judgement of anyone. Practically this means its OK if Srila Naryanana maharaja is inspired to speak about the loving dealings of Radha and the Gopies. It means its OK that IKSCON has its Gurus who may not be on the highest platform according to our understanding of sastra but according to this statement of sastra which opens up the gates of honor and respect so that love for God can enter, everyone gains a Guru according to their individual qualification. Its also OK to give the Prabhupadanugas respect and honor in vaishnava society. We may think we know sastra so well and place a nice tidy label on them as aprasapradya. What about this sastra. Krishna says( paraphrased),” I am seated in the hearts of all inspiring them in various ways”. If we commit violence of condemning and attacking even this vaishnava group who are inspired to serve Srila Prabhupada’ and Krishna in this way we are also apposing Krishna simultaneously because Krishna is seated in their hearts inspiring them to follow the the ritvik order of Srila Prabhupada, just as he is inspiring any devotee to follow some other Guru. They are doing this in spite of threats of excommunication and being thrown out of many temples. Sastra can be interpreted in various ways why not use the interpretation that throws open the gates of showering Gaurangas loving kindness upon all without discrimination and judgement. The Ritviks will be relived if they can accept it’s OK and the truth that it was Krishna’s will that the final order was not adopted by ISKCON Authorites, because not even a blade of grass moves outside of the will of Krishna.
The whole problem of unity of the various Vaishnava societies can be accomplished by cultivating a respectful attitude towards each other and not focus on what other societies are doing for the purpose of passing judgments on them about how they are not conforming to our tastes, expectations or even our interpretive understanding of Guru, sadhu and sastra. Can we not see many societies are using the scriptures to support their opinions and judgments. What is the result result? More friction, conflicts, fear,insecurity,and ridged partitions between vaishnava societies. .Then by approaching the different sangas of devotees in this mood of honor and respect their ridged boundaries erected due to fear of being judged and dominated will naturally relax and we can exchange information, talents, and support each other instead of acting like sectarian separatists. Each society has its Leader and let Krishna inspire the leader or Guru teach as he is inspired. We should not criticize or meddle in their affairs but stick to our own service and business within the society of devotees we are personally involved with. In this way the boundries that are erected by these societies to protect themselves will be dropped.
The main reason why many of us devotees have not attained attraction for Lord Caitanya’s qualities, character and his pastimes is because we do not act in the same mood as Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya expressed and gave his pure love to everyone who would receive it. He did not take into account the qualifications, faults, virtues, or sins of the general public or the misbehavior of vaishnavas. He loved everyone without discrimination. He looked for the good in all and fanned what ever little sincerity he could find and magnified this. In this way not only did he act as the most dear friend as super soul within but also acted as the most dear friend of all from the outside. If our hearts are not melting with devotion when we are chanting ‘Gauranga and Krishnas name then maybe we should ask ourselves. Are we holding grudges against anyone? Are we in a mood to forgive the faults and short commings of other devotees? Do we brood over the past offenses against us and hold hatred towards other devotees? Do we delight in listening to negative gossip about Vaishnavas true and imagined? Do we spend our time magnifying the faults we see or hear about other vaishnavas? Lord Caitanya gave a simple instruction in Caitanya bhagavata of how to easily reach the platform of chanting the Holy Name in devotional ecstasy. “ “Everyone is my Servant, Please Stop criticizing others and chant Hare Krishna maha mantra”! Jesus also taught these kinds of principals in some of his sayings to help his disciples reach levels of devotion which will not manifest when we are not in alignment with God’s true spiritual nature of being the friend and supporter of all. He said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy. Forgive and you will also be forgivenâ€. Practically its not so easy to change this fault finding propensity but we should on the lookout for good vaishnava association who act according to Lord Caitanya’s mood and then we will easily be able to adopt that same mode simply by the principal of intimate association with those whos hearts are pure by achieving the goal of guru and gaurangas mercy!.
Lord Chaitanya gave the biggest action of humble being
washing the feet of any Devotee that praised the lord
he did nt go saying i m right your wrong…
he accepted everyone…thats a real Vaishnava s duty.
” ………………… Each society has its Leader and let Krishna inspire the leader or Guru teach as he is inspired……… ”
The above statement is very bold and blunt which can be misguided, misrepresented and misunderstood.
Here is why ?
Lord Krishna only inspires His PURE Devotees who are free from any material desires.
Lord Krishna does not inspire any other Devotees who have even a little tinge of a material desire rather that inspiration comes for the subtle sense gratifications from the External Energy aka Ma Durga working under the guidance of the Lord Shri Krishna within such so called vaishnava devotees or any devotees leaders of any society.
That is the difference. Hope it clarifies.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.