it is mentioned in srila prbhupad books tht soul is eternal nd thus knowledge of soul never destroys while if one couldn't complete the devotion path in one birth he will get next human birth as an opportunity to complete the devotion path nd to go back to godhead.
the person has need not to start the devotion frm beginning while it can continue frm where it has left in his previous birth, as soul is eternal so its knowledge is also eterna nd can continue frm further.
but body is perishable so it has to start frm zero for getting material knowledge. like if one is scientist in one birth thn still in his next birth he has to start frm a b c, 1 2 3
so my question is tht we souls who r trying in devotional path in some capacity is due to the knowledge of our soul gained in previous births. we hve free will to choose move further on this path or to go backward. so is it definite or not tht we r going ahead or back in this progress. i mean i m afraid of am i going forward or hve been decreased my grade.
i hope i hve mentioned my question in understandable way.
Replies
Frankly 'Soul is allknowing hence it is in actions, or in our neglect of them that we succeed of fail to attract Krishna's awairness to us.
We win or we learn/train-the brain so life for one with any fath in the knowledge acquired, by direct perception & that implyed by the revelations within the Screpts & transfered by our authorities. I like to think that their is a redemption-factor, as we are redeemed we are more-progresive' as we offend or neglect we are burdened by kama distracted by the interuptions and the distractions of the encroaching of the dilushend'! Vishnu Ram is our Shelter Krishna Govenda is our teacher. At this Thay have no 2end! ?
Hare Krsna
If we are performing devotional activities then we progress, but if we do sinful sense gratification then we degrade. Whether we r progressing or not can be known by the simple checks given by RR Mataji. It is in internal transformation , but it depends on the activities and consciousness we cultivate.
YS Bharat
Hare Krsna Mataji,
PAMHO.
The ways in which we can find out whether we are progressing or not are:
1) Material hankering reduces in proportion to spiritual progress.
2) Service attitude develops.
3) Fault finding attitude diminishes. (We may need to work on it consciously initially)
4) We want to spend more and more time in the association of devotees, discussing Krsna and His devotees and pastimes.
5) We depend more and more on Krsna - internally. Level of surrender increases.
6) Our opinion of ourselves, which is always very good, starts to go down. We can see our faults.
7) We become more and more humble. The way to understand this is - when someone points out our fault, we dont take offence, We try to understand what is the fault and try to correct it.
Whatever progress we have made in previous lives has got us to devotion in this life. Every life, we have a choice to go towards materiality or spirituality. And we have to be careful to complete our sadhana in this life itself. One of the biggest impediments towards spiritual progress is aparadhs - the 10 offences to the holy name. We should always gaurd against commiting those offence.
I hope I have answered your question. PLease ask if there are further doubts, or you want to add anything.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
By the essence of all authoritative scriptures, one can degrade, stagnate or progress in devotional service, which directly depend on occupation of the mind.
One have to clearly understand that progress in bhakti do not depend on spiritual knowledge achieved in present or previous lives, but on association and mercy of the Lord and His pure devotees.
Uneducated cowgirls and cowboys of Vraja and its inhabitants such as trees and animals, whose minds are always occupied with Krishna, are the best examples of that.
CC Madhya 22.82 — “ ‘It is the verdict of all śāstras and great personalities that service to a pure devotee is the path of liberation. By contrast, association with materialistic people who are attached to material enjoyment and women is the path of darkness. Those who are actually devotees are broadminded, equal to everyone and very peaceful. They never become angry, and they are friendly to all living entities.’