The incarnate spiritual soul chooses its own destiny, as well as the body in which it will be incarnated.
Therefore, no one can say, “I did not ask to be born.”
A criminal “chooses” to be thrown into prison because he himself deliberately broke the law by committing malicious acts, but another man will be called to sit on the Supreme Court by virtue of the excellence of his service.
Similarly, the soul chooses its own destiny, which also includes the choice of a particular body, a choice based on past and present desires and actions.
Truly, no one can say, “I did not ask to be born.”
In this process of death and rebirth, of reincarnation in this material world, “Man proposes and God disposes.”
Just as a person chooses their car based on their needs and available means, so too does our material nature, responding to our desires and activities, prepare our future body.
If a human being squanders this precious life, whose sole purpose is the spiritual realization of the self, by devoting it only to the animalistic activities of eating, sleeping, having sexual relations, and defending themselves, God will allow them to be placed within a species that will provide them with greater ease in enjoying these pleasures, but without the inhibitions and responsibilities inherent in human life.
Those who do not embrace the devotional service offered to the Lord but instead find themselves seduced by philosophical speculation and self-serving pursuits drink the poison of the fruits that such actions produce.
They are then compelled to be born into various forms of existence, further compelled to adopt infamous practices, such as the consumption of animal flesh and intoxication in all its forms.
It is the soul's interest that must be sought, not the body's.
It is the soul's needs that must be satisfied, not the body's.
Materialists generally devote their worship to the ephemeral, physical body and forget to attend to the well-being of the spiritual soul living within it. Some take refuge in materialistic science to enhance their bodily comforts, while others worship celestial beings in order to be elevated to Edenic planets. Their goal in life is to ensure the comfort of their body, thus forgetting the interests of the spiritual soul. These people are headed straight for suicide, because attachment to the physical body and its comforts condemns the living being to wander through the cycle of birth and death, perpetual wanderings forever subject to the sufferings of this world. The human form represents for the incarnate spiritual being the opportunity to grasp the meaning of their true nature, and the most discerning minds embrace devotional service in order to dedicate their thoughts, senses, and bodies to the service of the Lord, without any deviation.
If we wish to live in peace and perfect harmony, then let us listen to God and live according to His teachings.
But even better, if we wish to see our problems, difficulties, and sufferings disappear, to see Him face to face and to go and meet Him in His absolute kingdom, then let us surrender ourselves completely to Krishna, God, the Supreme Person, renew the bond of love that unites us to Him, unite our desires, plans, and interests with His, love Him, obey Him, do His divine will, and serve Him with love and devotion.