The spiritual body already exists within you; bhakti-yoga simply removes the material covering.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Arrival — November 1, 1973, Delhi 731101AR-DELHI [36:00 Minutes] Arrival_731101AR-DELHI Prabhupāda: … anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje [SB 1.7.6] This, the present material civilized life, is anartha, unwanted. But still we have accepted it. This is [indistinct]. Things are not wanted—this body, material body, it was not necessary.
We have got our spiritual body. Just like in India, the tropical climate, we do not require any heavy clothing. But still sometimes you find to become a gentleman they load with heavy clothing, unnecessarily. [laughs] It is simply a habit.
Otherwise, in India plain cloth is sufficient. Most of the…, most part of the year in the villages, they remain naked body. There is no need of any heavy clothing. But sometimes, to keep up the modern civilization, we dress heavily with coats, pants and necktie and..., just see them covered.
So unwanted. Similarly, we have got our spiritual body. This material body is unwanted. There is no need.
So our Vedic civilization is to minimize the necessities, artificial necessities of the body. Therefore a mendicant, a sādhu, lies down on the floor; a brahmacārī lies down on the floor. Simple, for society's sake, a loincloth. Bare necessities.
Sannyāsī means the bare necessities. Brahmacārī means bare necessities. Only the gṛhasta, because they have to keep up the pace with the society, they require little gorgeous dress. So minimum necessities.
Reduce. Just like Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, for persons who are desiring to advance in spiritual life, he says that "When there is by nature bedding, nice grass, just lie down. Why you are after cot and mattress?" Now, "All right, the bedding is there. Where is the pillow?" He says, then, "You have got this pillow: hand.