When the Soul enters the physical body it takes residence within a physical form, prepared in purity or contamination, to receive it.
The physical form has no choice in the selection of the Soul to be its companion through the forthcoming cycle of existence. The Soul, on the other hand, has no free choice in the selection of the body into which it is to be imprisoned or glorified for another period of incarnation.
Both are drawn together, attracted to each other, and united by the Law of Compensation—the law of justice.
The Soul comes forth from its eternal abode with its consciousness and personality unimpaired, unaffected, by the changes in the mortal body from which it was freed at “death” or transition. It is not composed of dissimilar elements or temporary associates. It is one entity, uncompressed, uncreated, and undivided. It is the very antithesis of the physical body in every characteristic. Whatever may distinguish the physical body is a negative expression of the Soul’s positive character.
The Soul possesses, as a heritage from the Infinite Consciousness and mind “ in the beginning”, a mind and memory continuity of experience which is eternal.
It is the consciousness of self, this mind and memory, which we characterize as Personality. It is Personality, then, which grows and moulds into greater comprehension and power through the various cycles of evolution.
Into the physical body comes the Soul—the real Personality of self, with its perfect memory of all past experiences and its acquired penalties and rewards earned through the Law of Compensation.
It is still free to choose; free to decide, free to submit to or rebuke the urges which come from its memory of past experiences or the whisperings of the world without. But it has debits and credits to its record from the past and these it cannot avoid.
However it may decide now, it must contend with the Law of Compensation in attempting to carry out its decisions. The debt to be paid will be demanded by the Law of Karma at that moment which is most propitious. Ever and anon the silent adjustor of the Law stands by and with the nod of his head permits the decisions of man to come to an issue or fail.
Karma is not revengeful. It would be self-annihilating if revenge or retribution were its motives. It can only be recreative and constructive. The progressive evolution and advancement of the Personality is its sole purpose.