Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.13.36
Mukti· LiberationServe Beyond Identification With the Body
“Just as a drunken man does not notice if he is wearing his coat or shirt, similarly, one who is perfect in self-realization and who has thus achieved his eternal identity does not notice whether the temporary body is sitting or standing. Indeed, if by God’s will the body is finished or if by God’s will he obtains a new body, a self-realized soul does not notice, just as a drunken man does not notice the situation of his outward dress.”
What the purport teaches
- A person who has achieved spiritual identity does not make material sense gratification life’s goal. Such a person remains constantly engaged in the Lord’s service.
- The temporary body and flickering mind are material. A liberated soul knows that continued existence does not depend on the material body.
- Freedom from bodily identification does not mean punishing the body. The liberated soul remains neutral and accepts destiny as the will of the Supreme.
Try this today
Set aside a few minutes for the Lord’s service today, remembering that the temporary body is not your lasting identity.
Ask yourself
Am I making service to the Lord or bodily enjoyment my main concern?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.