By Dr. T. D. Singh (Bhaktisvarüpa Dämodara Swami) and Sadäpüta däsa
Darwinian evolution, or in modern times chemical evolution, assumes that it is strictly the morphology of an organism that evolves. The Vedic literatures, however, give us the information that it is not the body that evolves but rather the living being’s consciousness. And this evolution of consciousness takes place by the process of the living being’s transmigration from one body to another.
Those living entities that are below the human form of life never violate the laws of nature; they have no choice but to follow them. So their transmigration is strictly unidirectional-from less conscious forms to more conscious forms. Thus microbes, plants, birds, and animals all evolve until they reach the human form of life.
However, when the individual living being comes to the human form of life, his consciousness is fully developed, and along with it his free will. Thus the individual being in the human form can be obstinately rebellious against the laws of nature, or he can be completely harmonious with the laws of nature. In other words, he can exercise his free will either to evolve to a higher plane of consciousness or to revert to a lower stage.
From the human form of life, if the individual living being desires, he can escape the continuous cycle of transmigration from one form of body to another. This can be done by using his free will properly. On the other hand, if he exercises his free will improperly, then he can go back to the lower species. And this is called devolution of consciousness-the passage of the living being from higher consciousness to lower consciousness-which intelligent men wish to avoid.
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