The Nature of the Jiva Soul

by

Srila B. S. Govinda Maharaj

The jiva soul does not die and does not take birth. The potency of the jiva is always existing and once the jiva comes out from the tatstha sakti of Krsna it will never die and never again take birth, it only changes form. When our clothing becomes spoiled we put on new clothing. The jiva is also getting new bodies according to his previous activities, karma. If you do some good action then some good reaction will come to you and bad activity will bring bad reaction, in this way we are enjoying and suffering our karma, which is the result of our previous actions.
Krsna says to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita that the jiva soul does not take birth and does not die, that we all have an eternal spiritual form. If you all read the Srimad Bhagavad-gita carefully you will see that your form is also eternal and you will not die.

The good quality of the jiva is that from any position he can do service to Krsna. We must see the intention of the individual to do seva and through association that desire will grow. If I see someone eating very nice ice cream then I will also want to taste it, so if we see someone a real Krsna bhakta tasting something then it is necessary to take thaat good association. If we get such good association then we must get some inspiration from him to serve Krsna. Seeing his happiness doing seva then I must also become inspired.

When I can understand that I shall not die and vanish, and this is all very nicely explained in Srimad Bhagavad-gita, then I have some duty. I have thinking, feeling and willing, so I must guide my progress in an intelligent way. By reading the holy books and chanting the Lord's holy name, the maha-mantra and taking the association of the vaisnavas, in this proper way developing our spiritual life. These three things are very fruitfull for our spiritual life.

Whatever disease I may have I shall try to treat it, but that is only a small factor. My body will grow old and die, and just as with spoiled cloth I shall change it according to my karma. Whether I want to or not I must take what comes to me because it is my karma. So if I do some food wrok through the association of the vaisnavas and my practising life is going in the proper way then I will not be in a dangerous position. I must get the benefit from proper activities. Whatever I have I shall try to use for my business, and my business is to develop Krsna consciousness, and I shall not wait, I shall act now because if I wait then another cause will come to me and I shall use my energy there for myself in a selfish way and that is not good.

So immediately when the chance comes to me to practice Krsna consciousness, to think about Krsna and to chant the maha-mantra and his glories and to serve the vaisnavas then I shall grab that chance, that profitable chance for my spiritual life.
When someone is attacked with aids what shall he do, there is no medical cure so he must leave his body today or tomorrow. It is only a matter of time, but what little time he has if he uses it in the proper way then he will be benefitted by that proper utility and he will get new cloth again.

Arjuna asked Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita that if someone is practicing Krsna consciousness but he dies after short time practicing life, then what will happen to him. Krsna said to Arjuna do not worry about him, he has started to do some good work and a good result will come from that and next time he will get a better chance to have good association and he will get a favourable situation to continue his development in the future. But it is necessary that he begins sincerely and whole heartedly. Sincerity is necessary, he who is not sincere will only cheat himself.