From: kalki33!system@lakes.trenton.sc.us
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: What's your SIQ?
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 92 03:33:12 EST
Reply-To: kalki33!system@lakes.trenton.sc.us
Organization: Kalki's Infoline BBS, Aiken, SC, USA

bskendig@netcom.com (Brian Kendig) writes:

> >The soul is an actually existing living entity whose principal
> >characteristic is consciousness and who is part of the Supersoul, or
> >God.

> Huh?  If it's an "actually existing living entity", then what's its
> genus and species?  I thought religion considered the soul to be part
> of a human being, and not an "entity" unto itself?

Genus: spirit
Species: soul

Don't know about "religion" but the Vedas say the soul is a separately
existing entity, not dependent on matter. Also not restricted to
inhabiting human bodies.

> And what it "the Supersoul, or God," if not an abstract concept?  ;-)
> Can you demonstrate it to be something concrete?  Can you take me
> somewhere and point to something and say "there, that's God"?

Supersoul
Genus: God
Species: Spirit

As a matter of fact, we can point God out to you. But would you
recognize Him?

> Then I assume that life is what somebody else makes it?  Who?
> (note that the answer "God" is invalid unless you prove that (a) God
> exists, and (b) God is responsible for everybody's life being what it is.)
> 

Yes, God makes life, life being the conscious living beings who are
inhabiting the lifeless universe of matter. God also makes the lifeless
universe of matter as a temporary abode for the living beings (souls)
who desire to pursue their dreams of personal enjoyment independently of
God. But this is a temporary situation, and at the end of the present
term of habitation, when the body of the living being becomes
uninhabitable, he is forced to vacate that body and accept a new body,
to undergo the same illusory search for pleasure all over again.

But the human form is more advanced than the lower forms, because it has
a brain which is more advanced. With this brain, even though the living
being is within the body and restricted in his activities by the
limitations of the body, he can entertain questions about his
predicament. He can inquire about his origin, his destiny, his real
identity, etc. Animals and plants cannot ask "who am I and what is my
duty", but human beings can. The purpose of human life, the human
biological form, is to ask these questions, act on the answers, and
return to Godhead, to our real home, where the soul is eternally happy
in a loving relationship with the source of his being, God, the
Supersoul.


> >      |  Don't forget to chant:   Hare Krishna Hare Krishna   |
> >      |                           Krishna Krishna Hare Hare   |
> >      |                           Hare Rama Hare Rama         |
> >      |                           Rama Rama Hare Hare         |
> 
> What is that, and what does it mean?

"Krishna" means "all-attractive"
"Rama" means "the reservoir of bliss"
"Hare" means "Oh energy of the Lord"

These are personal names of God, and the prayer means:

"Oh energy of the Lord, oh Lord, please engage me in Your devotional
service"

This is called the maha-mantra, or the great prayer for deliverance.
Chanting it is part of the process of glorifying the holy names of God,
which is necessary for proper discharge of the purpose of life.

Sincerely,
Kalki Dasa

       -------------------------------------------------------
      |  Don't forget to chant:   Hare Krishna Hare Krishna   |
      |                           Krishna Krishna Hare Hare   |
      |                           Hare Rama Hare Rama         |
      |                           Rama Rama Hare Hare         |
      |                                                       |
      |   Kalki's Infoline BBS Aiken, South Carolina, USA     |
      |        (kalki33!kalki@lakes.trenton.sc.us)            |
       -------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc