"The internal subtle senses are experienced as having four aspects in the shape of mind, intelligence, ego and contaminated consciousness. Distinctions between them can be made only by different functions, since they represent different characteristics." Purport: "The four internal senses or subtle senses described herein are defined by different characteristics. When pure consciousness is polluted by material contamination, and identification with the body becomes predominant, this is called false ego. Consciousness is the function of the soul, and therefore behind consciousness there is soul. When consciousness is polluted by material contamination, this is called ahaṅkāra."
Prabhupāda: Bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān. The same thing. Puruṣaḥ prakṛti-sthaḥ bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān (BG 13.22).
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Is this ego mentioned here, is it a false ego? That's what I understand.
Prabhupāda: Not real. Real ego is "I am servant of Kṛṣṇa." Ahaṁ brahmāsmi.
Rūpānuga: Is there false ego in different modes? Like false ego in the mode of ignorance, false in the mode of passion or goodness?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Rūpānuga: So the consciousness can be contaminated according to the mode in which it's associating.
Prabhupāda: Yes, prakṛti-jān guṇān.
Rūpānuga: Yes. So I am identifying with my body in any mode, that is false ego. But my consciousness is contaminated by a particular mode—may be passion, may be ignorance, may be goodness. So then my consciousness is contaminated. So false ego is the base of all material activities, but I may be acting in a certain mode, contaminated in a certain way. Is that right?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Rūpānuga: That is what it means.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Everything clear, these four internal subtle senses?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Rūpānuga: What else you got?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Actually, consciousness is a symptom of life, so when we say contaminated consciousness, the quality of life is there, but somehow that . . .
Prabhupāda: That is mixed with material modes.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: Yes.
Rūpānuga: Originally it is goodness. Very . . . pure goodness, you say. Originally in the beginning is . . .
Prabhupāda: I give the example, just like water falling from the sky. It is crystal clear, distilled water. But as soon as touches the earth, it becomes muddy. But that muddiness can be filtered.
Rūpānuga: Plus muddiness is the character of the mud, not the consciousness. And it can be cleansed, filtered out.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that filtering process is devotional service. So unless the water is different from the precipitated matter, how it can be filtered?
Svarūpa Dāmodara: So far we are concerned, prakṛti is clear, but the source of prakṛti is little, ah . . . so we'll try to . . . we want to show this, Śrīla Prabhupāda, in our chapter on some sort of creation, creation of material manifestation.
Prabhupāda: You'll get this from Second Canto.
Rūpānuga: Second Canto. That's that "First Step in Self-Realization" chapter?
Sadāpūta: Fifth chapter, sixth chapter—two chapters.
Prabhupāda: Atra sargo visargaś ca (SB 2.10.1), that verse, Second Canto, you find out.
Sadāpūta: Śrīla Prabhupāda? Is matter generated within a given body, like the body of a human being? While it's living, is matter generated and annihilated within that body during the time of life?
Prabhupāda: Body is matter. Whole body is combination of matter.
Sadāpūta: Right. But does the living entity within, or the Supersoul . . .
Prabhupāda: Yes, within.
Sadāpūta: Does it generate matter, so say the body could get heavier or lighter because of that?
Prabhupāda: Because the living entity is there, matter is generated. Just like a tree, living entity is there, and big log, wood, is generated.
Rūpānuga: Like that stone. That stone is increasing its weight, so when someone goes to see the stone he sees, ah, the stone is bigger and heavier also. So that increased material or matter that makes up the bigger size of the stone, is that matter being generated from the soul?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Rūpānuga: From the spirit soul. So spirit soul has power . . .
Prabhupāda: Mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate.
Rūpānuga: Ah!
Prabhupāda: Similarly, from the spirit soul everything has come out.
Rūpānuga: So spirit soul can create matter.
Prabhupāda: Actually, from life matter is generated.
Rūpānuga: Jaya.