A defining characteristic of the soul is its indestructibility. The Bhagavad-gita, while listing the ways in which the soul is beyond destruction, states specifically that it is beyond desiccation (02.25).

Yet during the course of our spiritual life, we may go through barren phases; we may find our devotional practices juiceless and joyless. In terms of objective reality, the soul can never be dried up. In terms of subjective feeling, however, we may feel as if our soul is dried up – as if we are living in an inner desert, despairing for some life-saving water, some glimpses of higher spiritual happiness. In such cases, the metaphorical usage “My soul has dried up” vividly describes the seekers’ feelings.

Using such metaphorical language, the Bhagavad-gita states that those who adopt atheistic worldviews destroy their souls (16.09); and that lust, anger and greed are the destroyers of the soul (16.21). These metaphorical usages refer to two great spiritual dangers: doubts and desires. Doubts induced by anti-devotional worldviews such as atheism and desires triggered in the form of lust, anger and greed – both these deaden us spiritually.

Both kinds of statements about the soul’s nature – its literal indestructibility and its metaphorical destructibility – are important. When we feel fearful on hearing news of worldly destruction and death, we can find inner security by meditating on our spiritual indestructibility. When we feel tempted by anti-devotional ideologies such as atheism or by anti-devotional passions such as lust, anger or greed, we can check ourselves by meditating on their spiritual deadliness.

On a more positive note, by focusing on practicing bhakti steadily, we can become absorbed in Krishna. When thoughts about him – his glories, his service, his sweetness – flood and fertilize the desert of our heart, we relish the eternally ripe fruits of pure love for Krishna.

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