Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.62
Ūti· What drives us to actBodily Plans Continue Beyond Death
“The living entity labors under the bodily conception of “I am this, I am that. My duty is this, and therefore I shall do it.” These are all mental impressions, and all these activities are temporary; nonetheless, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity gets a chance to execute all his mental concoctions. Thus he gets another body.”
What the purport teaches
- Under the bodily conception, people compete to advance beyond others and make the body comfortable. These activities rest on temporary bodily identities.
- When the gross body is destroyed, the living entity carries his plans in the subtle body. According to the law of karma, he receives another body in which to pursue them.
- The Supreme Lord, the Supersoul, is situated within everyone’s heart. By His grace, the living entity receives remembrance and another opportunity to carry out previous plans.
Try this today
Write down one current ambition and identify the bodily designation or desire for comfort behind it.
Ask yourself
Which of my plans rests mainly on bodily comfort or being ahead of others?
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.