# Soul & Body > [!summary] > *The distinction between the eternal soul and the temporary material body is a foundational teaching. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses vivid analogies to make this abstract truth concrete and understandable.* ## Changing Clothes The most famous analogy: as we discard old garments and put on new ones, the soul discards old bodies and accepts new ones. ![[bg/2/22|garments]] —Bg. [[bg/2/22|2.22]] ## Driver & Car The soul is compared to the owner of a car, and the body to the car itself. Damage to the car need not affect the owner—unless he identifies with it. ![[sb/5/10/22#purport|car]] —SB [[sb/5/10/22|5.10.22]] Purport See also: [[sb/2/5/32|SB 2.5.32]], [[cc/adi/6/14-15|Ādi 6.14-15]] ## Bird in a Cage The soul is like a bird trapped in the cage of the body. Polishing the cage does not satisfy the bird—the bird's needs must be addressed directly. ![[sb/1/2/8#purport|cage of the bird]] —SB [[sb/1/2/8|1.2.8]] Purport ## City with Nine Gates The body is compared to a city with nine gates (eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, genitals, anus), and the soul is the king living within. ![[bg/5/13|nine gates]] —Bg. [[bg/5/13|5.13]] See also: [[sb/4/25/14|SB 4.25.14-17]], [[sb/4/29/7|SB 4.29.7]] ## Chariot In the Kaṭha Upaniṣad analogy, the body is the chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the reins, intelligence is the charioteer, and the soul is the passenger. ![[sb/4/29/18-20#purport|chariot]] —SB [[sb/4/29/18-20|4.29.18-20]] Purport See also: [[sb/4/26/1-3|SB 4.26.1-3]], [[cc/madhya/11/37|Madhya 11.37]] ## Sun Illuminating As the sun illuminates the entire universe, the soul illuminates the entire body with consciousness. ![[bg/13/34|sun]] —Bg. [[bg/13/34|13.34]] See also: [[bg/2/18|Bg. 2.18]], [[bg/2/20|Bg. 2.20]] *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/transmigration|Transmigration Analogies]], [[wiki/analogies/soul-supersoul|Soul & Supersoul]]*