View source for Well, then, how is the individual soul eternal if it has a beginning?

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[[Category:Questions asked to Srila Prabhupada]]
[[Category:Questions asked to SP... 1976]]
[[Category:Questions On... Spirit Soul]]
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="MorningWalkMay151976Honolulu_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="100" link="Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu">
<div class="heading">No, we say there is no beginning. As God has no beginning, soul has no beginning.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu|Morning Walk -- May 15, 1976, Honolulu]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: God created the soul and the matter also. Has he discussed anything?</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: No.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: God created everything. God created soul and the matter.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: The individual soul.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Ah.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Well, then, how is the individual soul eternal if it has a beginning?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, we say there is no beginning. As God has no beginning, soul has no beginning.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: No beginning, yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Na jāyate na mriyate vā. That is the distinction between matter and soul.</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: They counter that if God is all-powerful, He can do anything. So why not He can create a soul and that soul can then be eternal from that point?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Hm?</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: The Christian may argue that God is all-powerful, so God has created the soul, and from that point the soul is eternal.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Soul is eternal, we admit.</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: But only from that point, not in the past.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Not in the past?</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes, because according to Biblical philosophy you only have one lifetime in this world.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then who goes to heaven?</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Persons who adopt the principles.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: And if one life, then who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Very few go to heaven.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Anyone, if he goes to hell or heaven, then why do you say "one life"? Then another life. Otherwise what is the meaning of going to heaven or hell?</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: No. They get one chance to good or bad, and then finish.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Eh?</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: They get one chance. Do good or bad. Then you either go to heaven or to hell. But you don't get another chance.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: But if he goes heaven means there is another life. How do you say "one life"? This is defective philosophy.</p>
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