There are 8,400,000 species of living entities under the impression that "I am this," "I am plant," "I am fish," "I am mosquito," "I am man," "I am demigod," "I am tiger," "I am Indian," "I am American." In this way there are 8,400,000's of different types of identification. Therefore we find so many forms of life. Atmanam tri-gunatmakam manute.

This is all the work of maya, to keep us under certain impression. And we work under certain impression and create another situation, and we get, tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. Now, this life, if I create a situation like a dog, then I will get the body of a dog.

Or if I create a situation like the demigod, then I can go to the heavenly planets. But if I create a situation that "I am eternal servant of Krsna," then you go to Krsna. This is wanted. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Create a situation.

Don't create a situation that "I am this. I am that." Simply create a situation that you completely understand that "I have no other business than to advance in Krsna consciousness, and my only duty is to serve Krsna."

From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6 — Vrndavana, April 18, 1975