View source for In the conditioned state we are identifying, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am human being," "I am this," "I am that," "I am white," "I am black." These are all designation. Actually, this is not self-realization

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"These are all designation. Actually, this is not self-realization"|"I am black"|"I am white"|"I am that"|"I am this"|"I am human being"|"I am Indian"|"I am American"|"In the conditioned state we are identifying"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|Visnu Murti}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2020-06-13T15:16:27Z}}
{{last|2020-06-13T15:16:27Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=0|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=1|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Conditioned State]]
[[Category:Identification With The Body]]
[[Category:American - Bodily Concept of Life]]
[[Category:Indian - Bodily Concept of Life]]
[[Category:Human Beings]]
[[Category:I Am]]
[[Category:White - Bodily Concept of Life]]
[[Category:Black - Bodily Concept of Life]]
[[Category:These Are]]
[[Category:Designation]]
[[Category:Actually]]
[[Category:Self-realization]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
We are component parts of the whole, supreme whole. This is self-realization. It is very simple thing. Self-realization does not mean anything very extraordinary. Hitvā anyathā-rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ (SB 2.10.6). Mukti, this is called . . . mukti means liberation or self-realization. What is that? Hitvā anyathā-rūpam: giving up a different identity. In the conditioned state we are identifying, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am human being," "I am this," "I am that," "I am white," "I am black." These are all designation. Actually, this is not self-realization.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:681230 - Lecture BG 03.18-30 - Los Angeles|681230 - Lecture BG 03.18-30 - Los Angeles]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Eighteen: "A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfill in the discharge of his prescribed duties, nor has he any reason not to perform such work. Nor has he any need to depend on any other living being."

Prabhupāda: Hmm. This is very important. What is actually self-realization? All processes, religious process, yoga practice, philosophical speculation or anything for self-realization, any method, what is the purpose? And what is the ultimate goal of the self-realization?

That ultimate goal is to understand that, "I am eternal servant of God, Kṛṣṇa." That's all. This is self-realization. So long one is identifying oneself with this material world, with this body, with this mind, it is not self-realization. Self-realization means that I am spirit, and the Supreme Lord is also spirit, so I am part and parcel of the Supreme.

Just like take for example this finger. The finger is the part and parcel of this body. So when the finger can understand that "I am part and parcel of this whole body and my duty is to serve the whole body," that is self-realization. So long one is not understanding this point, he is illusioned. What is the position of this finger? Suppose this finger is a person. Any individual spirit is a person. That we have discussed in the Second Chapter. Everyone, every one of us, individual person.

So as individual person what is my position? My position is . . . just like you are individual citizen of the state. What is your position? To serve the state. That is your position. That is good citizenship. What does it mean, a good citizen? One who is trying to serve the state. Take, for example, in Russia, in China: they have made the state as worshipable.

Any component part of the state, citizen, is to sacrifice everything for the state. In your country also, the draft board is calling, "Come on. You have to go to the fight." But you cannot say "No," because you are component part of the state. If you deny, then you are not a good citizen. You'll be arrested, you'll be harassed by the government.

Similarly, we are component parts of the whole, supreme whole. This is self-realization. It is very simple thing. Self-realization does not mean anything very extraordinary. Hitvā anyathā-rūpaṁ svarūpeṇa vyavasthitiḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 2.10.6|SB 2.10.6]]). Mukti, this is called . . . mukti means liberation or self-realization. What is that? Hitvā anyathā-rūpam: giving up a different identity. In the conditioned state we are identifying, "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am human being," "I am this," "I am that," "I am white," "I am black." These are all designation. Actually, this is not self-realization.

Self-realization is that "I am neither American nor Indian nor black nor white, nor anything. I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the whole, Kṛṣṇa." This is self-realization. So long it is not completely realized, so long we have got doubt, we have to make progress. And as soon as we come to the point and firmly convinced, that is self-realization.

Therefore here it is stated, "A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfill in the discharge of his prescribed duties." Prescribed duties, either take for . . . any scripture—take your Bible, take Koran, take Vedas—there are some prescribed duties. Just like in your Bible, there are ten commandments: "Thou shall not kill." So for whom? One who is not self-realized.

One who is self-realized that "I am part and parcel of the Supreme God, everyone is part and parcel of the Supreme God, and human being, animal, ant, aquatic, beast, bird, every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord . . ."that is self-realization. Then how can you kill? If everyone is part and parcel, son of the Supreme, how you can kill your brother? This is self-realization. You'll not . . . you'll hesitate even to kill even an ant.

Just like we published that picture in our Back to Godhead, "The Hunter." The hunter was taking pleasure in killing animals half dead, and when he was self-realized, he was hesitating to kill even an ant. You see? Why? Self-realized. So he has no prescribed duties. To him you haven't got to say, "Thou shall not kill." He will automatically not kill, because he is self-realized.

Self-realized person does not do any harm to anyone, because he knows everyone in relationship with the Supreme. His central point is Kṛṣṇa. Neither he'll misuse anything. He makes everything proper use. "This nice foodstuff, it is given by Kṛṣṇa. Let it be offered to Kṛṣṇa." That is not misuse; that is the proper use. "Here is nice rose flower, it is manufactured by Kṛṣṇa's energy. Let it be offered to Kṛṣṇa." This is self-realization.
</div>
</div>
</div>