Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.28.24
Mukti· LiberationThe Soul Is Not Material
“The material body made of earth is not the true self; nor are the senses, their presiding demigods or the air of life; nor is the external air, water or fire or one’s mind. All these are simply matter. Similarly, neither one’s intelligence, material consciousness nor ego, nor the elements of ether or earth, nor the objects of sense perception, nor even the primeval state of material equilibrium can be considered the actual identity of the soul.”
What the purport teaches
- The material body is not the true self. Neither are the senses, their presiding demigods or the air of life.
- The mind, intelligence, material consciousness and ego are not the soul’s actual identity. All these are material.
- Neither the physical elements, the objects of perception nor the primeval equilibrium of material nature can be considered the self.
Try this today
When a thought arises today, briefly remind yourself, “The mind is material; it is not my actual identity.”
Ask yourself
Which do I most readily mistake for myself: my body, mind or intelligence?
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.