Our real identity

We all have likes and dislikes,
fond memories, and plans for the future.
But all these things change with the passing of time,
because the body changes.

The Existence of the Soul

The temporary body is not as important as the soul,
because the soul is eternal. As far as the soul's
existence is concerned, no one can establish the
soul's existence experimentally. There is no source
of understanding the soul except through the Vedas,
just as there is no source of understanding the identity
of the father except from the mother.

The Subtle Body

When we speak of the body, we include the subtle body.
The subtle body is made up of the mind, intelligence,
and false ego. The false ego is the material identity
that the spirit soul accepts upon entering a material
body. The intelligence is meant to make judgments
and plans by remembering information supplied by
the mind. Everything we have done, felt, desired,
or said is stored in the mind. Most of it is
subconscious information, especially that from past
lives. Within the arena of the mind, the intellect works
and the senses reach out for their objects. Whatever
gratifies the senses, the mind accepts, and whatever
doesn't, it rejects -- unless the intelligence intercedes
on behalf of the desires of the soul. The intelligence
and the soul are closely enwrapped, separated only by
the transparent layer of false ego.

The Changing Body

The body changes continuously, almost like the frames
in a movie. Moment by moment, the cells in the body
are changing, and growth and old age take place in
the body. Scientists say that all the cells of the body
are renewed every seven years. Thus the body changes
many times in a lifetime. The small baby's body is gone,
and now it is replaced by another. But despite all the
changes of the body, the spirit soul exists permanently,
remaining the same. To enlighten those who do not
understand the difference between matter and spirit,
the Lord teaches Bhagavad-gita.

The Symptom of the Soul

If you take salt and mix it in a glass of water, the salt
can no longer be seen, but the salt can be recognized
by tasting the water. Similarly, the soul is a spiritual
atom smaller than a material atom, one
ten-thousandth part of the tip of a hair in size,
but can be recognized by its symptom, consciousness.
Consciousness pervades the entire body. If you pinch
your body, you will feel pain. Everyone is conscious
of the pleasures and pains of one's own body. This
consciousness is direct evidence of the presence of
the spirit soul. A material body minus consciousness
is just a dead body, and no material means can
bring back the consciousness. Consciousness is
limited to one's own body and unknown to another's.
Therefore each body is the embodiment of an
individual soul.

The Sun and the Sunshine

Sometimes we cannot see the sun in the sky owing
to clouds, but the light of the sun is always there,
and we are convinced that it is daytime. As soon
as a little light is in the sky early in the morning,
we can understand that the sun is in the sky.
Similarly, since there is some consciousness in
all bodies -- whether man or animal -- we can
understand the presence of the soul. As the sun
is illuminating the universe from one place, the
small particle of spirit in the heart illuminates
the body. Although the spirit soul is within the body,
the soul is ever detached from the body. The soul
does not respond to material influences. The soul
cannot be dried by air or heat, burned by fire, or
cut with a knife.

Proper Use of Independence

The living entities are eternally fragmental parts
and parcels of the Supreme Lord. As fragmental
parts and parcels, they have fragmental portions
of his qualities. Thus every living entity, as an
individual soul, has personal individuality and
a minute quantity of independence. By misuse of
that independence one becomes a conditioned soul,
and by proper use one is liberated. After liberation
the soul remains an individual and lives in eternal
knowledge and bliss with the Personality of Godhead.

Our Constitutional Position

Everyone wants to love and be loved. No one can
live without loving someone else. This inclination to
love moves us to serve our family, community, country,
or society, but our love remains imperfectly fulfilled
until we repose it in the Supreme Beloved, Sri Krishna.
The Supreme Lord is the source of everything,
including all loving relationships. Although human
civilization has advanced comfortable living, we
are not happy, and many are frustrated and confused,
because they are missing this point: Our constitutional
position, as spirit soul, is to serve in love the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Missing Krishna means missing
one's self, and loving Krishna means loving one's self
and all living entities perfectly.