existence differs from that of the body, and therefore one is neither fat nor thin, one attains the highest level of spiritual realization. On the contrary, one who is unaware of his real identity remains chained to the material universe because of his bodily conception of existence. Right now, all of humanity is living with this bodily consciousness. Spiritual intelligence makes it possible to understand this truth and at the same time raise society to the level of perfection.

He who ceases to be affected by the bodily conception of existence in its various aspects can rise to the devotional service offered to the Lord. The more we free ourselves from all bodily conception, the more firmly we establish ourselves in devotional service and the happier and more peaceful we become. The being free from any bodily conception of existence lives separate from the body, even though he lives in this material world.

All human beings would get along much better if there were no “mine”, no “yours”, no “me”, and no “you”, inherent in the bodily concept of existence.

The mistaken notion of “me” and “you”, based on a body-based conception of existence, is a product of ignorance. This bodily consciousness is the cause of successive deaths and rebirths, and it indefinitely subjugates the being to material existence.

In truth, the spiritual soul has nothing in common with the material concept of existence it develops in a conditioned state, but if it identifies with this false concept, it is because it is under the influence of the energy of the Lord. The external energy acts under the direction of the Lord and it governs, by his divine will, the existence of individual beings distinct from God. Although in its original state the being is pure consciousness, it is subjected by the will of the Lord to the influence of its external energy.

The spiritual soul incarnated and conditioned by matter then thinks “I am this body”, but the realized soul says it; “I am not this body because I am a spiritual soul”.

This “I am” represents the ego, the identity of being. Thinking “I am this body” is “all that is related to the body is mine” is a false ego, [the false ego is identification with its body, and the fact of wanting to dominate matter], but when one has realized one's spiritual identity and one says to oneself “I am the servant or the maid of the Supreme Lord”, this identification of the “me” constitutes the true ego.