The Supreme Lord continues: “As the ether which, everywhere spread, cannot however, him of subtle (ethereal) nature, mingle with anything, so the soul, of the spiritual substance, although in the body, cannot don't mingle with him.”

Ether penetrates water, mud, stools…, everything that exists, but it does not mix with anything. Likewise, the soul, although located in various bodies, remains, by its ethereal nature, independent of these bodies. It is therefore impossible to see with our material eyes, how the soul is in contact with the material body, and how it separates from it when the latter perishes. No scientist can explain these things, these secrets.

The Supreme Lord continues, “As the sun alone illuminates the whole galaxy, so the spirit soul alone illuminates the whole body with consciousness.”

As the sun illuminates the whole galaxy with its rays, so does the soul. Indeed, although located in the heart of the body in which it resides, the soul illuminates, through the consciousness which is none other than its own energy, the whole body. Consciousness is therefore the proof of the soul's presence in the body.

As long as the soul is present in the material body, the latter is entirely permeated with consciousness, but as soon as it leaves the body, the consciousness disappears with it. Any intelligent man can understand this.

Consciousness is therefore not the result of any combination of material elements, but is the sign of the presence of a soul in this mass of dense matter. Although qualitatively One with the Supreme Consciousness (Krishna), the consciousness of the individual spiritual being, distinct from Krishna, does not merge with the Supreme Consciousness, for it extends to one body only, unlike that of Krishna, which extends to all bodies without exception.

The Supreme Soul, partial plenary emanation of Krishna, located in all material bodies as a friend of the incarnated being, is aware of all bodies. This is the distinction between the individual consciousness and the supreme consciousness.

The Supreme Lord adds: “He who, in the light of knowledge, thus sees what distinguishes the body of the possessor of the body, and also knows where one frees oneself from the grip of material nature, that one reaches the ultimate goal.”

The Supreme Lord Krishna teaches us how to know how to distinguish between the material body, the possessor of the material body, and the Supreme Soul.