Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.12.10
Mukti· LiberationRealize the Soul Without Denying Variety
“As long as a living entity is not completely self-realized — as long as he is not independent of the misconception of identifying with his body, which is nothing but a reflection of the original body and senses — he cannot be relieved of the conception of duality, which is epitomized by the duality between man and woman. Thus there is every chance that he will fall down because his intelligence is bewildered.”
What the purport teaches
- As long as one identifies with the material body, the duality of man and woman continues, and bewildered intelligence can lead to a fall. One should not assume oneself perfect and neglect the śāstric cautions.
- True self-realization means practically knowing that the living being is spirit soul in various material bodies. The learned person sees with equal vision beyond distinctions of man, woman and animal.
- Unity in variety is real knowledge; artificially denying variety is not perfection. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s acintya-bhedābheda philosophy recognizes varieties that together constitute one unit.
Try this today
When you encounter a person or animal today, pause to remember that the living being is spirit soul, not merely the visible body.
Ask yourself
Is my understanding of the spirit soul only theoretical, or is it changing how I see other living beings?
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.