We should not identify ourself with the body. We must know that, "I am different from the body. Somehow or other I have been encaged within this body." This is self-realization. It is very simple thing. Self-realization means to know that, "I am not this body, but I have been put into this body because I desired." That is higher self-realization. Why? There are so many different forms of bodies. Unless there is some management, or discrimination, that "You are living entity; you should accept this body. You are living entity, you should accept this body." So unless there is such arrangement . . . just like in a train there are first-class, second-class seats, and the conductors directs, "Here is your reserved seats, sir. Come here. Sit down."
Similarly, the conductor is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called Paramātmā, or the Supersoul. The Supersoul is there, and He is giving you, offering you different types of bodies as you desire. As you desire. If you desire the body of a human being, you get it. If you desire the body of a tiger, you get it. If you desire the body of a demigod—you get it, you can get it. And if you desire the body like Kṛṣṇa, you also get it. This is your facility. Everything is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.
- yānti deva-vratā devān
- pitṟn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ
- bhūtejyā yānti bhūtāni
- mad-yājino 'pi yānti mām
- (BG 9.25)
This last word, Kṛṣṇa says, mad-yājino 'pi yānti mām: if one is Kṛṣṇa conscious, then by cultivation of this Kṛṣṇa culture, devotional service, you can go back to home, back to Godhead, and you get exactly the same body as Kṛṣṇa has got. And what kind of body Kṛṣṇa has got? He has got a body, sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha.