Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.71
Mukti· LiberationServe Beyond Gross and Subtle Identification
“When the living entity is in deep sleep, when he faints, when there is some great shock on account of severe loss, at the time of death, or when the body temperature is very high, the movement of the life air is arrested. At that time the living entity loses knowledge of identifying the body with the self.”
What the purport teaches
- In deep sleep or fainting, the living entity forgets identification with the gross body. Such forgetfulness does not mean that the soul ceases to exist.
- Both sleeping and ordinary waking are creations of the illusory energy. In ignorance, we act sometimes in relation to the gross body and sometimes to the subtle body.
- By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, we can gradually learn to act in terms of the spiritual body. Devotional service means engaging the spiritual body and senses in the Lord’s service, ending material actions and reactions.
Try this today
Use your voice today to offer a short prayer of service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can I use my senses in the Lord’s service rather than remain absorbed in bodily identification?
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.