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Yoga philosophy teaches that real man is not his body, but that the immortal I, of which each human being is conscious to some degree according to his mental evolution, is not the body but merely occupies and uses the body as an instrument.
Vishnudevananda Saraswati
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The essence of a person is their consciousness, not their physical form.

This quote suggests that human identity transcends the physical body. It posits that the true self, the immortal 'I', is conscious and is part of a deeper mental evolution, and that the body is merely a temporary vessel or instrument for expressing that consciousness.

Themes

ConsciousnessBodyPhilosophyIdentitySelf

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture about the nature of self, one could mention this quote to illustrate the distinction between the mind and body.

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