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About this quote

What does it mean?
Identifying strictly with the physical body creates separation and selfishness.
In plain terms
When you think you are only a body, you fight for yourself and ignore others.
What can you take from it?
Body identification fuels division and conflict.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • self-inquiry
  • spiritual practice

Putting it to work

  • meditation
  • self-inquiry
  • compassion exercises

Questions to consider

  • How does your view of self affect your relation to others?
  • Do you act differently when identifying with body vs mind?

Another view

Physical needs are real, so dismissing the body entirely is impractical.

More from Swami Vivekananda

  1. As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from God, fear remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One, fear goes; of what can…

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  2. As soon as you know the voice and understand what it is, the whole scene changes. The same world which was the ghastly battlefield of maya is now changed into …

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  3. As body, mind, or soul, you are a dream; you really are Being, Consciousness, Bliss (satchidananda). You are the God of this universe.

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