View source for Sastra says that if one is in bodily concept of life, he is no better than the animal. Because the dog, it does not know that beyond this body, the dog is there, he is a living entity, he is a soul, he is Brahman, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"śāstra says that if one is in bodily concept of life, then he is no better than the animal. Because the dog, it does not know that beyond this body, the dog is there, he is a living entity, he is a soul, he is Brahman, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|SharmisthaK}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2023-08-31T16:53:15.000Z}}
{{last|2023-08-31T16:53:15.000Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=0|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=1|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Sastra]]
[[Category:Say]]
[[Category:If One Is]]
[[Category:Bodily Concept of Life]]
[[Category:No Better Than]]
[[Category:Animal]]
[[Category:Because]]
[[Category:Dog]]
[[Category:Does Not Know]]
[[Category:Beyond Our Body]]
[[Category:Living Entities]]
[[Category:Souls]]
[[Category:Brahman]]
[[Category:Part and Parcel of God]]
[[Category:God Is The Supreme Brahman]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SHARMISTHA]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Śāstra says that if one is in bodily concept of life, then he is no better than the animal. Because the dog, it does not know that beyond this body, the dog is there, he is a living entity, he is a soul, he is Brahman, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. These things dog does not know, or a cow does not know, or an ass does not know, or the animal does not know. Similarly, if we do not know beyond this body, then we are no better than animal, sa eva go-kharaḥ (SB 10.84.13).
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:711110 - Lecture BG 04.01 - Delhi|711110 - Lecture BG 04.01 - Delhi]]
</div>
<div class="text">
When one person thinks that this body is, "I am. I am this body . . ." Actually do so. If I ask you what are you, what you are, you'll give all description of your body; I'll give all description of my body. "I am Mr. Such-and-such, I am born of such-and-such father, my national country is such-and-such . . ." But these are all designation of this body. I do not know what I am, therefore I give only the designation. Therefore my intelligence is bodily concept of life: "I am this body."

So śāstra says that if one is in bodily concept of life, then he is no better than the animal. Because the dog, it does not know that beyond this body, the dog is there, he is a living entity, he is a soul, he is Brahman, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. These things dog does not know, or a cow does not know, or an ass does not know, or the animal does not know. Similarly, if we do not know beyond this body, then we are no better than animal, sa eva go-kharaḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 10.84.13|SB 10.84.13]]).

So if you analyze the whole population, you will find that we are simply a crowd or assembly of so many animals, that's all. This is fact. Because we not know beyond this body. So you cannot expect any peace and prosperity in the animal society. That is not possible. The animals, by nature they can not live in peace. They are always in fighting. Just like children: although they live together, but they will fight. They will fight. So the world is trying to have peace and prosperity, but they want to keep themself as animal. So therefore it is, conclusion is, that there cannot be any peace and prosperity in this status of social constitution.

You have to become real human being. That is wanted. And what is the human being? That is explained in the Vedānta-sūtra. Vedānta-sūtra, you have heard the name, if you have not studied, that is the greatest philosophical presentation of Indian culture, Vedānta. Vedānta means . . . Veda means knowledge; anta means end. Just like we have accumulating knowledge from university education, but everything remains imperfect. The scientists, they give some theory, but that is imperfect. Another scientist comes, he improves upon it, everything. That means this knowledge has no end—it is going on, going on. But the knowledge which is . . . which comes to the point that here is the extreme knowledge, that is called Vedānta.

So the Vedānta means, those who have read Vedānta, Vedānta-sūtra, the first sūtra, or code, is athāto brahma jijñāsā. Atha, "Now, the time is for inquiring about the Absolute Truth," athāto brahma jijñāsā. That means the human life. The human . . . Vedānta-sūtra, this philosophy, is meant for the human being, not for cats and dogs. They cannot understand. Therefore it is said, atha, "now."

It is the opportunity of our inquiring about the Absolute Truth, this human form of life. What is that Absolute Truth? Everyone is under the concept of this body. But that is not Absolute Truth, it is relative truth. But if you inquire about the Absolute Truth, then it is possible, because you are human being, you can understand what is that Absolute Truth. It is possible. Because this body is so advanced, our consciousness is so advanced, that there is possibility.

But if we misuse this possibility, if we don't inquire about the Absolute Truth, simply we fight with one another for eating, sleeping, sex life and defending, then we are no better than animals. The animals eat, sleep, have their sex life, and they defend in their own way. So if we improve the method of eating, sleeping and sexual intercourse and defending, then we don't go beyond the animal propensities. We have got higher intelligence, higher consciousness, not to improve the method of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, but to understand the Absolute Truth. Therefore, without understanding the Absolute Truth, we are simply spoiling our opportunity of this human life.

The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is attempting to educate people how to utilize this human form of life properly. It will not stay; it will also die, just like cats die, the dogs die. We also die, but there is difference of this death. We can die knowing the Absolute Truth. The cats and dogs die without knowing. That is the difference. In the Garga Upaniṣad it is said, etad viditva ga prayatisa brāhmaṇa etad aviditva ga prayatisa kṛpaṇa (Garga Upaniṣad).

Etad, this absolute knowledge, without knowing the Absolute Truth, if somebody dies . . . everyone will die, you cannot check. You may be very much advanced in scientific knowledge, but you cannot stop death. That is not possible. Neither you can stop old age, neither you can stop birth.

Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣānudarśanam ([[Vanisource:BG 13.8-12 (1972)|BG 13.9]]). In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that you may be very much advanced, you have mitigated all your sufferings, all the problems of life, but these problems of life, janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi, birth, death, old age and disease, that you cannot avoid. That is not possible. So, if . . . but everyone has got the tendency to avoid birth, death, old age and disease.

Why? Because the spirit soul, I am, in reality, I am not subjected to birth, death, old age, and disease. Because I have accepted this material body, therefore apparently I am subject to birth, death and old age. Otherwise, I am eternal. Just like God is eternal, similarly I am also eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre ([[Vanisource:BG 2.20 (1972)|BG 2.20]]). This living entity, the soul, after the annihilation of this body, he does not die.

So this is . . . these are the subject matter of knowledge in the human form of life. So etad aviditya, without knowing this science, if somebody dies like cats and dog, he is a kṛpaṇa. Kṛpaṇa means miser. And one who dies with the knowledge of this brahma-jñāna, self-realization, he is called Brahmana. Brahmana means brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ. One who knows Brahman, the Absolute Truth, he is called Brahmana. Therefore our business is to become a Brahmana. Don't think that Brahmanas are produced only in India. No. Brahmana can be produced any part of the world. Simply by knowing Brahman, he can become Brahmana. Every one of you can become Brahmana, if you understand what is Brahman, because Brahmana means one who knows the Brahman.
</div>
</div>
</div>