The soul selects its body; nature merely provides the materials according to one's desires and karma.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śyāmasundara: Today we are discussing two more scientists. Who came after Darwin, evolutionists. The first one is Thomas Huxley. Darwin saw that only that in nature there was a natural selection process and he called that evolution, survival of the fittest. But Huxley...
Prabhupāda: There, here is the mistake. Natural selection, nature is not selecting. The soul--is selecting. It, it, it is not that nature is selecting a certain type of house. It is the man who will reside in the house--he is selecting the type of house. You cannot say that there are different types of residential houses. In nature, nature can supply the ingredients. You require bricks, stone, wood, so many things you require. Nature will supply, "All right, you take this," but the type of the house that--you make, not nature makes. So there, here is a great mistake that nature is selecting. Nature is not selecting the soul--is selecting and that they do not know. They, we, we should be practical. When I, I prefer a table like this it is--my selection, not nature's selection. Nature can supply me the wood and I prepare according to my
Śyāmasundara: But, but my selection must depend upon the conditions. If it is cold I must build a warm house, if it is hot I must build a cool house...
Prabhupāda: Whatever it may be the selection is mine, not natures.
Śyāmasundara: But don't I select in terms of the conditions?
Prabhupāda: You compare, the actual performer is the soul not nature. Nature can supply you the materials.
Śyāmasundara: But if, if ah it is cold you must build a warm house so that means nature is selecting which type of house.