All Over the Body - The Proof of the Soul's Existence
The most fundamental teaching of the Bhagavad-gītā is that we are not the temporary material body, but the eternal spirit soul within. For those who demand scientific, observable proof of the soul's existence, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a brilliant, practical demonstration. He asks us to examine the phenomenon of consciousness. That which is spread all over the body and allows us to perceive pain and pleasure is not a product of matter; it is the active, illuminating symptom of the eternal spirit soul.
Practical Proof of the Soul
Material scientists struggle to locate the soul because it is anti-material and infinitesimally small. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that its presence is undeniable because its effect is felt everywhere. Just as a small lightbulb can illuminate an entire room, the atomic soul, which is situated within the heart, spreads its powerful influence of consciousness all over the body.
- The proof of the soul existing is that the consciousness is spread all over my body. As soon as I pinch any part of my body, I feel pain. Therefore I understand a soul is there.
- Consciousness is spread all over the body. Suppose I pinch in any part of your body - you feel some pain, and that is consciousness, any part of your body.
- This verse (Bhagavad-Gita 2.17) more clearly explains the real nature of the soul, which is spread all over the body. Anyone can understand what is spread all over the body: it is consciousness.
- When the soul is present in the body, there is consciousness all over the body, and as soon as the soul has passed from the body, there is no more consciousness. This can be easily understood by any intelligent man.
Illuminating Power of the Soul
To help us grasp how something so small can pervade the entire physical form, Śrīla Prabhupāda uses powerful analogies. Just as a single drop of poison can instantly affect the entire bloodstream, or as the sun situated in one location illuminates the entire solar system, the spirit soul radiates consciousness from the heart to the very tips of our hair.
- The spirit soul is within your heart. It is situated there. But it is so powerful that its light is spread all over this body so that wherever you pinch, you feel, by consciousness.
- The atomic soul is floating in the five kinds of air (prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana), is situated within the heart, and spreads its influence all over the body of the embodied living entities (Mund 3.1.9).
- Whenever there is sun, there is sunlight, immediately. Where there is light, immediately there is illumination. Just like a drop of poison. You just take a drop of poison as soon as it touches the tongue immediately it expands all over the whole body.
- The antimaterial particle is finer than the finest of material particles. This living force is so powerful that it spreads its influence all over the material body.
Individual vs. Supreme Consciousness
A dangerous illusion in spiritual life is the Māyāvādī philosophy, which claims that the individual soul is God and is spread everywhere. Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly defeats this nonsense. He clarifies that while our individual consciousness is spread all over our own body, we have no idea what is happening in another person's body. Only the Supreme Lord possesses superconsciousness, which is spread all over the entire universe.
- These Mayavadi, they think that "I am the same. I am distributed everywhere. I am moving the sun, I am moving . . ." They mediate like this. This is nonsense. How you are moving? It is said, maya tatam idam sarvam: I am expanded all over this body.
- In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna says we should try to understand that consciousness is spread all over the body and that it is eternal. Similarly, consciousness is spread all over this universe. But that is not our consciousness. That is God's consciousness.
- The soul is existing, spreading its influence all over the body, just like the sun is existing, spreading the sunshine all over the universe. Similarly, God is existing, spreading His consciousness all over the universe, all over the creation.
- We have personal experience of consciousness, for it is spread all over the body; in every hair follicle of our body we can feel consciousness. This is individual consciousness. Similarly, there is superconsciousness.
Futility of the Elephant's Bath
Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the phrase "all over the body" in a famous analogy regarding the futility of material atonement. If a person performs a ritualistic cleansing but does not change their internal consciousness, it is completely useless. It is like an elephant that takes a thorough bath in a lake, only to immediately throw dirt all over its body upon returning to the shore.
- An elephant takes a very good bath and cleanses its body very nicely, but as soon as it comes out of the water, it picks up some dust on the shore and throws it all over its body.
- He (Pariksit Maharaja) gave the example of an elephant which cleanses his body thoroughly in a lake or reservoir, but as soon as he comes onto shore he takes dust and throws it all over his body and immediately becomes dirty again.
- Elephant is a very big animal, and it takes bath in the lake, very nicely washes the body. Then, as soon as he comes on the bank, he immediately takes some dust and throw it over the body.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda makes the deepest philosophy remarkably practical. By simply observing the consciousness spread all over our own body, we can realize our eternal, spiritual identity. Once we understand that we are not the material body, the next logical step is to use that very body—by marking it with tilaka, writing the holy names, and engaging the senses—in the loving devotional service of the Supreme Lord, who is conscious of everything.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category All Over the Body. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.