Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.12.31
Mukti· LiberationThe Spiritual Being Remains
“When all the material designations have thus merged into their respective material elements, the living beings, who are all ultimately completely spiritual, being one in quality with the Supreme Being, should cease from material existence, as flames cease when the wood in which they are burning is consumed. When the material body is returned to its various material elements, only the spiritual being remains. This spiritual being is Brahman and is equal in quality with Parabrahman.”
What the purport teaches
- When material designations merge into their respective elements, the spiritual living being remains.
- The living being is completely spiritual and one in quality with the Supreme Being. The verse describes this spiritual being as Brahman, equal in quality with Parabrahman.
- Material existence should cease as flames cease when their wood is consumed. The return of the body to its elements does not mean the loss of the spiritual being.
Try this today
Reflect for one minute on the distinction between the body that returns to its elements and the spiritual being that remains.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that the spiritual being remains change my view of bodily identity?
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.