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the beginning of crea on. It is like a developer who builds a housing
project of 150 houses. He customizes each house according to the de-
sires of his individual clients and their ability to pay for his services.
Similarly, Lord Krishna creates 8.4 million species of living en es. Then
He places the souls of living en es in par cular species according to
their previous karma (ac vi es and desires). Each soul is given the pos-
sibility to evolve through the different species to the human form,
which is the most favorable species to transcend the cycle of birth and
death. If a human being is fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee
representa ve of Lord Krishna and accept to be trained and educated
in devo onal service of the Lord, he can end the cycle of birth and
death and return to the spiritual world for eternal, blissful life. The arts
and culture of the perfect life for human beings by which one is elevat-
ed to transcendence is explained in detail in the Bhagavad-gita. The
following summary will be appreciated by those who want to end the
cycle of suffering and a ain the perfect life described as individual ex-
istence in a body that is eternal, replete with knowledge and unending
bliss.
Lifestyle Adjustment
The beginning of the perfect life and prac cal wisdom is regula ng the
func ons of the body and mind (ea ng, sleeping, ma ng and defend-
ing) according to Vedic knowledge.
āyuḥ-sa va-balārogya- / sukha-prī -vivardhanāḥ
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā / āhārāḥ sā vika-priyāḥ
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the dura on of
life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and
sa sfac on. Such foods are juicy, fa y, wholesome, and pleasing to the
heart. (Bg 17.8)
Bhak vedanta Swami Prabhupada expounds:
The purpose of food is to increase the dura on of life, purify the mind
and aid bodily strength. This is its only purpose. In the past, great au-
thori es selected those foods that best aid health and increase life’s
dura on, such as milk products, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits and vegeta-
bles. These foods are very dear to those in the mode of goodness.
Some other foods, such as baked corn and molasses, while not very
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