Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.60
Ūti· What drives us to actContinuity Beneath the Changing Gross Body
“The great sage Nārada continued: The living entity acts in a gross body in this life. This body is forced to act by the subtle body, composed of mind, intelligence and ego. After the gross body is lost, the subtle body is still there to enjoy or suffer. Thus there is no change.”
What the purport teaches
- The subtle body consists of mind, intelligence and ego. The gross body is its instrumental outer covering, through which the living entity acts.
- When the gross body dies, the subtle body continues and brings about another gross body. Its pious or impious activities create further situations of enjoyment or suffering.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, present as the Supersoul, guides the individual soul. From Him come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness, maintaining continuity as gross bodies change.
Try this today
Pause before one action today and notice the intention in your mind that is directing it.
Ask yourself
How might recognizing the mind’s role in shaping future experience affect the thoughts I encourage?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.