Originally the soul comes from God.
Just as a spark comes from fire, and when the spark falls down it appears to be extinguished, the spark of soul originally comes from the spiritual world to the material world.
In the material world he falls down into three different conditions, which are called the modes of nature.
When a spark of fire falls on dry grass, the fiery quality continues; when the spark falls on the ground, it cannot display its fiery manifestation unless the ground is favorably situated; and when the spark falls on water, it becomes extinguished.
As such, we find three kinds of living conditions.
One living entity is completely forgetful of his spiritual nature; another is almost forgetful but still has an instinct of spiritual nature; and another is completely in search of spiritual perfection.
There is a bona fide method for the attainment of spiritual perfection by the spiritual spark of soul, and if he is properly guided then he is very easily sent back home, back to Godhead, wherefrom he originally fell.
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The real nature of our identity with the Supreme is described in the Vedic literature with the analogy of the sparks and the fire.
The sparks of a fire have the same quality as the fire, yet they are different in quantity.
But when the small spark leaves the fire and falls down in water, its fiery quality is lost.
Similarly, when the infinitesimal soul leaves the association of the Lord and contacts the mode of ignorance, his spiritual quality becomes almost extinct.
When a spark falls on the land instead of in the water, then the spark retains some heat.
Similarly, when the living entity is in the quality of passion, there is some hope that he can revive his Krsna consciousness.
And if the spark drops onto dry grass, it can ignite another fire and regain all its fiery qualities.
Similarly, a person who is in the mode of goodness can take full advantage of spiritual association and easily revive his Krsna consciousness.
Therefore one has to come to the platform of goodness in this material world.
- Srila Prabhupada
