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Knowlege about the soul and the Supersoul Q: What are the important differences between the Supreme Lord Vishnu or the Supersoul and the living entity (samsaaree)? A: The important differences are: Dimensionally, the Supersoul is infinitely vast and spreads His opulent (vibhu) light everywhere and in comparison, the living entity, as a personified unit of gyana (knowledge) is infinitely smaller. The Supersoul is not bound by ‘karma’ (past deeds), but the living entity is bound by ‘karma’, which means that his present role is pre-determined by his past role. The Supersoul, overwhelms, bears and governs and the living entity is overwhelmed, borne and governed by the Super-Soul. The Supersoul’s knowledge is everlasting and is infinitely vast, whereas the knowledge of the living entity, because of its attachment to ‘karma’ is bound to shrink. However, in the state of ‘mukthi’ or liberation from ‘karma’, the knowledge of the living entity expands and fills the space. Q: How many varieties of living entities are there? A: The living entities are of three varieties: 1. Baddhas, 2. Mukthas and 3. Nithyas. There are four classifications of baddhas: devas (the heavenly entities); human beings; thiryaks consisting of birds and animals; sthavaras (plants). The above said baddhas take different births cyclically based on their past deeds of good and bad, being subject to the natural elemental influences like, sound, touch, form, taste, scent etc., they get involved in the wordly life. Their physical bodies obscure their consciousness of the soul within and are affected by their ego of I and Mine. They have been experiencing joy and sorrow of life from time immemorial. We belong to this category of baddhas and are countless. A baddha, at some point of time, through the grace of the Lord, begins to realize the presence of the Supersoul, gets liberated from the cyclical worldly connections imposed by karma, samsara and the mundane sport (leela vibhoothi) and reaches the abode of Lord Vishnu to become a muktha, which means that he has attained mukthi, a state of liberation. These mukthas are also countless. The nithyas are never associated with karma and always dwell in the abode of the Supreme Lord like the great serpent called Anantha, the great bird called Garuda, the chief attendant Vishwaksena and a countless number engaged in the service of the Lord. Q: Are there any differences in the personality (swarupa) of the three types of living entities? A: As part of the body of the Supreme Lord, these three types of living entities, who enjoy the consummate enlightened state do not have any difference in personality.