Augustine (A.D. 354-430) considered the soul to be spiritual and different from the material body but he also believed that the soul did not exist before the body's birth.He simply supposed that the soul is the superior part of the person and the body the inferior part.He also thought that the soul attains immortality only after God creates it-only after God brings it into being.At death,Augustine said,the soul goes on to live eternally.
Augustine considered that because of Adam's fall,all men are subject to the death of the body.In addition,Augustine believed that while God destines some men to enjoy everlasting happiness after death,He destines others to undergo everlasting suffering.In other words,Augustine said that some people endure both physical death-when the soul abandons the body-and "soul-death"-when God abandons the soul.Thus,when one is damned he faces not only physical death but also "soul-death."
Figuratively speaking,when one forgets his identity as a servant of God,he undergoes a kind of death-but actually the soul is eternal.So,what Augustine calls "soul-death" is actually forgetfulness of God.Of course,until one acquires freedom from material existence,one is "spiritually dead," even though still existing in the material form.Forgetfulness of one's real identity is a kind of death,because only when one is alive to God consciousness is he actually alive.In any case,the soul is eternal and survives the annihilation of the body.The soul is essentially part and parcel of God,but in this material world the soul is factually imprisoned in different types of bodies.
The soul,always part and parcel of God,simply assumes different types of bodies according to his pious or impious activities and desires.The desires of the soul actually determine higher or lower bodies.But in any case,the soul is the same.It is therefore said that those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness see the same quality of soul in each and everybody.
There are many people who are well situated,and there are others who are suffering.
Suffering and enjoyment take place according to one's body.
In the human form of life,as in other forms,material nature punishes the living entity with so much suffering.But at the same time you can consider human life a gift-because in the human form we can approach God.We should think that if God has given us this body for our punishment,it is His mercy,because by undergoing His punishment willingly,we may become purified and progress toward God.Devotees think in this way.Although the body is a form of punishment,they consider it a reward-because by undergoing the punishment,they are progressing toward God realization.Even when the body is given by God for our correction,it can thus be considered a gift.
Concerning peace,Augustine writes "peace between a mortal man and his maker consists in ordered obedience,guided by faith,under God's eternal law.Peace means coming in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.A man in ignorance thinks that he is the enjoyer of this world,but when he contacts the Supreme Personality of Godhead,the Supreme controller,he understands that God is the enjoyer.
a servant supplies the needs of his master,and we are servants meant to supply enjoyment to God.Actually God Has no needs to fulfill,yet He enjoys the company of His servants,who in turn enjoy His company.A servant is very happy when he receives a good master,and a master is happy to acquire a very faithful servant.This is the relationship between the individual soul and God,and when this relationship is destroyed,it is said that the individual soul exists in illusion.When the relationship is restored,the individual is situated in his spiritual consciousness by which he understands that the Supreme God is the actual enjoyer and that we are His servants.God is the actual enjoyer and proprietor as well as the Supreme Being.When we understand God's transcendental qualities,we become happy and attain peace.
