Eternal soul, karma, samsara, and reincarnation

What it is: This belief gathers the idea of lasting individual soul with karma, samsara, and rebirth.

How the tradition understands it: The living being is seen as eternal soul temporarily conditioned by matter, subject to multiple births while remaining distant from Krishna.

Textual basis and context: The Bhagavad Gita is a key source for this formulation, in continuity with categories widely spread in Hinduism.

Objections and debates: The debated point is usually less the existence of rebirth within the tradition and more the relation between karma, free will, grace, and divine intervention.

Supportive

Bhagavad Gita 15.7

hare-krishna,bhagavad-gita,soul,krishna

Living beings as eternal parts of the Lord.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 15.7.
Content: The verse describes living beings as eternal portions related to the Lord.
Use in debate: Much used to explain relation between individual soul and Krishna.

Bhagavad Gita 2.13

hare-krishna,bhagavad-gita,reincarnation,soul

Change of bodies and continuity of the being.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 2.13.
Content: The verse describes passage through bodily states and suggests continuity of the being beyond the present body.
Use in debate: Classical textual basis for enduring soul and rebirth.

Bhagavad Gita 2.20

hare-krishna,bhagavad-gita,soul,immortality

The soul is not born nor dies.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 2.20.
Content: The text describes the true self as unborn, imperishable, and not destroyed with the body.
Use in debate: Central for the notion of eternal soul in the movement.

Bhagavad Gita 3.9

hare-krishna,bhagavad-gita,karma,action

Action offered correctly and liberation from karmic bond.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 3.9.
Content: The verse relates sacrificial action and freedom in relation to karmic attachment.
Use in debate: Serves to explain transformation of acting through devotion.