Freedom from Being Subjected to Birth and Death
In his teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights a profound irony: although every living entity is an eternal spirit soul, everyone in the material world is currently subjected to birth, death, old age, and disease. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this as the "real question" and the most pressing problem of human life. While modern society prides itself on technological advancement, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that no material scientist has found a way to stop the waves of nature that carry the soul through repeated births. Real perfection, therefore, lies in finding the method to transcend this subjection and return to our original, eternal nature.
The Soul's Original Nature vs. Conditioned Subjection
Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguishes between the inherent quality of the soul and the temporary condition of the material body. The soul is na jāyate (never born) and mriyate (never dies), yet because of ignorance, it is subjected to the transformations of the material frame.
- By accepting the chain of birth and death, the soul accepts a diseased condition. The soul is not subject to birth, death or disease because it is pure spirit. In Bhagavad-gita Krsna says that a soul has no birth - na jayate and that it has no death - mriyate.
- If I am eternal as God is eternal, then why I am subjected to birth and death? This is real question.
- Janma-mrtyu jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam (BG 13.9). The body is subject to its own principles of birth, death, old age and disease, but one who is situated in spiritual life (yato bhaktir adhoksaje) has no birth, no death, no old age and no disease.
A Law That Governs All Material Beings
No matter how pious or powerful a living entity may be within this universe, they remain subjected to the laws of nature as long as they hold a material body. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this includes even the longest-lived beings like Lord Brahmā.
- Both of them (those in mode of goodness and those in ignorance) are subjected to the repetition of birth and death. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated that even one who is very pious returns to earth after his enjoyment in the higher planetary systems is over.
- The life of Lord Brahma covers millions of earth years, yet he is also subjected to birth and death. That is the way of conditional life.
- Being carried away by the waves of nature, and subjected to the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. No scientist can stop it. But still, they are very much proud of advancement. They do not know the real problem and how to solve it.
- Those who attain the highest material planets or the planets of the demigods are again subjected to repeated birth and death.
The Cause of Repeated Birth and Death
Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the subjection to birth and death is not an accident but a result of the living entity’s desire to dominate material nature and the subsequent entanglement in karma.
- No one can dominate Krsna. It is the conditioned soul who tries to dominate material nature and is instead subjected to the laws of material nature and the sufferings of repeated birth and death.
- This material world is not for the purpose of the Lord Himself, but is for the conditioned souls who wanted to be controllers due to misuse of their God-gifted minute independence. Thus the conditioned souls are subjected to repeated birth and death.
- For the sake of the body, which is a source of constant trouble to him and which follows him because he is bound by ties of ignorance and fruitive activities, he performs various actions which cause him to be subjected to repeated birth and death.
The Solution: Purifying Existence
The only way to stop being subjected to these material miseries is to purify one’s existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that when the living entity surrenders to Kṛṣṇa and acts according to His directions, the cycle of birth and death finally comes to an end.
- You should become a perfect human being. Purify your existence. Why you are subjected to birth, death, old age and disease? Because we are impure. Now, if we purify our existence, then there will be no such thing as birth, death, old age and disease.
- The living entity who is subjected to birth and death attains immortality when he gives up all material activities, dedicates his life to the execution of My order, and acts according to My directions.
- The difference (for a devotee) is, however, that for one who surrenders to Krsna fully and who is protected by Krsna, the present body is his last; he will not again receive a material body to be subjected to death.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that being subjected to birth and death is an unnatural, diseased condition for the eternal soul. While material civilization ignores this fundamental problem, the Vedic literatures provide the definitive solution. By recognizing that we are spirit souls and not the material body, and by purifying our existence through devotional service, we can end the painful cycle of repeated birth and death. As Śrīla Prabhupāda assures his followers, for one who fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa and dedicates their life to His mission, the current material body is the last, and the soul is finally restored to its original, immortal, and blissful state.
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 Subjected to Birth and Death. We invite you to click this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.