Choosing Human and Animal Lives 9
opinion that the species are evolving from lower
forms of life, but this is not the whole truth. The
soul may progress from lower forms to higher forms,
but in the beginning of creation all species were
created by Sri Krsna, as indicated in Bhagavad-gita.

sarva-bhutani kaunteya
prakrtim yanti mamikam
kalpa-ksaye punas tani
kalpadau visrjamy aham
prakrtim svam avastabhya
visrjami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam krtsnam
avasam prakrter vasat
“O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium every
material manifestation enters unto My nature, and at
the beginning of another millennium, by My potency
I again create. The whole cosmic order is under Me.
By My will is it manifested again and again, and by
My will is it annihilated at the end.” (Bg. 9.7,8)

All of these living entities are subject to the three-
fold miseries, including those miseries pertaining to
the body and mind. Animals cannot understand
that they are suffering, but human beings can. One
who does not know that he is suffering is in animal
consciousness. Animals may be standing behind a
fence to be slaughtered, but they do not understand
this. As human beings, we should be cognizant that
we are suffering the pains of birth, old age, disease
and death and should be inquisitive to know how to
avoid these miseries. We have been suffering from
