Quote from Srila Prabhupada about that the human-like form is the original form of the spiritual soul
Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
As I promise to you in the Class to Cuzco, I want to provide here the original quote from Srila Prabhupada when he said that the original form of the spiritual soul is human-like.
Here it is. Is a section of questions and answers in a class in Melbourne.
"Devotee (1): Would the spirit soul that is within, say, a cow's body, is in a different shape?
Prabhupāda: Yes. It has got also legs. But the shape has taken according to his desire. Every animal has got these four things. Just like bird, it has got two wings, two legs. The animal has got four legs. And the man has got two hands, two legs. So the same parts of the body, they are appearing in a different type. But the four limbs of the body are there. Hm?
Devotee (2): Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?
Madhudviṣa: The question is that whether the eternal form of the spirit soul is a human form or is it...
Prabhupāda: Yes, human form. God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Kṛṣṇa, two hands, two legs.
Hari-śauri: How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?
Prabhupāda: Yes. They are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul.
Hari-śauri: They are covered in the spiritual world?
Madhudviṣa: He is asking if they were actually covered in the spiritual world as well.
Prabhupāda: Not in the spiritual world. There that is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as flower; they become flower there. If I want that "As a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa," he becomes flower, voluntarily. And he can change his..., from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as cow, he serves Kṛṣṇa as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. Ye yathā mām prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham (BG 4.11). That is Kṛṣṇa's all-powerfulness, spiritual life."
Source: Lecture Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6. Chapter 1. Slokas from 1st to 4th - Melbourne, 1975, 20th May.
My comment is that is good that so many devotees took the opportunity to present deep-thought questions to Srila Prabhupada, and he gave clear answers without hesitation. Clearly, his knowledge is not from this world.
Hare Krishna Guru Maharaja,
Thank you for still giving us this opportunity to communicate with you where we have the chance to make our own questions.
HpS - Thank you!!!! Sudama carrys Krsna on his shouders in Goloka and then he expands as Garuda in Vaikuntha!!
