The eternal soul, not the temporary body, defines true identity and knowledge.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Bhagavad-gītā 2.13 — November 19, 1972, Hyderabad 721119BG-HYDERABAD [46:33 Minutes] Bg-02.13_721119BG-HYDERABAD Prabhupāda: ...tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13] We began this verse yesterday. This is the criterion of understanding spiritual life. People generally do not understand that there is another element beyond this body. Generally, people, they are under the impression that "I am this body.
I am Indian." Why I am Indian? "Because this body's born in India, therefore, I'm Indian." "I am American." Why? "Because body is born in America, therefore I am American." Similarly, this dehātma-buddhiḥ, bodily concept of life, is going on all over the world. This is ignorance, ajñāna.
This is called ajñāna. Jñāna and ajñāna. Jñāna means one who knows that he is not this body; he's spirit soul. Ahaṁ brahmāsmi.(1) [aside:] [taps microphone] It is...
Little strong make it, yes. So when one is freed from the bodily concept of life, he's called jñānī. Otherwise, ajñānī. They are so much proud of jñāna.
In our India, there are so-called Māyāvādīs. They think of themself as jñānī-sampradāya. What is that jñānī? "I am Hindu.
I am Indian. I am sannyāsī." This is their jñāna. But actually it is ajñāna. If you think yourself that you are Indian, if you think yourself as Hindu, if you think yourself as brāhmaṇa, if you think yourself as a śūdra, then you are ajñānī; you are not jñānī.
Because you are giving your identification... [aside, about microphone:] Why it is stopped? If you are giving your identification on the ground of your body, then you are ajñānī. Jñānī means paṇḍita. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ. vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śva-pāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ [Bg. 5.18] Actually who is jñānī, who is paṇḍita, he will not see, "Here is an Indian," "Here is an American," "Here is an Hindu," "Here is a Muslim," or "Here is a cat," "Here is a dog." No Because he will see not the outward bodily identification. Just like while I am talking with you, because your dress is white and because my dress is saffron color, it does not mean that we are different. Simply on the ground of dress, if we think we are different, then that is ajñāna.