We are eternal spiritual beings (atma) who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Person, Lord Krishna. Though we are qualitatively one with God in that we share His spiritual nature, we are quantitatively different—like tiny sparks in relation to a great fire.

The material existence we experience is not our natural state. We are caught in an endless cycle of reincarnation (samsara), where the soul repeatedly takes birth in different bodies based on past actions and desires. This cycle brings perpetual suffering through repeated birth, disease, old age, and death. Our actions in this life determine our future circumstances through the law of karma.

The most important purpose for us as spiritual beings is to reawaken our dormant love for Krishna through the practice of bhakti-yoga (devotional service). In our current conditioned state, we have forgotten our true spiritual identity and relationship with God, resulting in our entanglement in the cycle of birth and death (samsara) governed by the laws of karma.