--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the head of a goat is severed from…" description: "\"When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the trunk struggles for some time, still showing signs of life. Similarly, though ahamkara (egotism) ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg" --- # When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the… ![“When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the trunk struggles for some time, still showing signs of life. Similarly, though ahamkara (egotism) is slain in the perfect man, yet enough of its vitality is left to make him carry on the functions of physical life; but it is not sufficient to…” quote by Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg) > “When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the trunk struggles for some time, still showing signs of life. Similarly, though ahamkara (egotism) is slain in the perfect man, yet enough of its vitality is left to make him carry on the functions of physical life; but it is not sufficient to bind him again into the world.” [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even after ego is destroyed, remnants persist, allowing life to continue without reattachment to worldly illusion. **In simple terms:** Ego death leaves some life energy, preventing full rebirth. Key Takeaway Cultivate detachment beyond ego loss. Themes spirituality ego rebirth Mood serene thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - self‑inquiry - mindful living - service work Key Concepts non‑attachment self‑realization life continuity Questions to Reflect On - Can you notice lingering ego after spiritual practice? - How does detachment affect daily actions? A Different Perspective Ego remnants may still influence behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahamkara Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahamkara-egotism-2723794/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [Egotism Slain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism-slain-2723798/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Goat Severed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goat-severed-2723795/) [Goats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goats/) [Head Goat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-goat-2723796/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man Vitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-vitality-2723797/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-man/) [Signs of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signs-of-life/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trunks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trunks/) [Vitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vitality/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Death is the heritage of life; a man’s vitality is like air in a bladder. Poinct this bubble and away, away, away, flees life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/death-is-the-heritage-of-life-a-man-s-vitality-is-like-air-in-a/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [Before Keto could notice, Hedge pointed towards the top of the amphitheater. It looked like he might be screaming, Gods of Olympus, what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/before-keto-could-notice-hedge-pointed-towards-the-top-of-the/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Truth will never come into our minds so long as there will remain the faintest shadow of Ahamkâra (egotism). All of you should try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/truth-will-never-come-into-our-minds-so-long-as-there-will-remain-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“No sooner were they drowsing pleasantly than the Magenpies would start the food call, one doing the hiccoughs while the other did the piping.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/no-sooner-were-they-drowsing-pleasantly-than-the-magenpies-would/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Ah come on, these streams of light are not so subtle. All along the ditch, signs of life in sinking puddles!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-harmer/ah-come-on-these-streams-of-light-are-not-so-subtle-all-along-the/) [Sarah Harmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-harmer/) > [ One of the chief duties which \[the Christian\] will punctually and carefully fulfill is the duty of prayer. You will remember in the Book… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-edward-manning/one-of-the-chief-duties-which-the-christian-will-punctually-and/) [Henry Edward Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-edward-manning/) > [“am looking for signs of life, although I know I won’t find them. I’m not sure how the poachers took this herd down. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/am-looking-for-signs-of-life-although-i-know-i-won-t-find-them-i-m/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Along the rough cobbled streets that had served so well in surprise attacks and buccaneer landings, weeds hung from the balconies and opened cracks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/along-the-rough-cobbled-streets-that-had-served-so-well-in-surprise/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Be strong! Don't talk of ghosts and devils. We are the living devils. The sign of life is strength and growth. The sign of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-strong-don-t-talk-of-ghosts-and-devils-we-are-the-living-devils/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Show me where there is life in the desert. Only those who can see such signs of life are able to find treasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/show-me-where-there-is-life-in-the-desert-only-those-who-can-see-such/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Strolling down a white-graveled walk to the cliff above the ocean, he let his eyes rove aimlessly over the expanse of sea and sand:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thompson/strolling-down-a-white-graveled-walk-to-the-cliff-above-the-ocean-he/) [Jim Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thompson/) > [Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jokes-about-chuck-norris/chuck-norris-has-already-been-to-mars-that-s-why-there-are-no-signs/) [Jokes About Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jokes-about-chuck-norris/) > [I am standing here in the shed, and I'm waiting to see if my seeds are going to poke out ofthe dirt. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-am-standing-here-in-the-shed-and-i-m-waiting-to-see-if-my-seeds-are/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“He must turn to something solid, because if he didn't, who knew where his mind or his soul could blow away to, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/he-must-turn-to-something-solid-because-if-he-didn-t-who-knew-where/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this," said Ron, and with his tongue he made soft clip-flopping noises. Umbridge sat bolt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yeah-she-shows-signs-of-life-if-you-do-this-said-ron-and-with-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ramakrishna > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It is very pleasant to scratch an itching ring-worm, but the sensation one gets afterwards is very painful and intolerable. In the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-is-very-pleasant-to-scratch-an-itching-ring-worm-but-the-sensation/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [By the mind one is bound; by the mind one is freed. ... He who asserts with strong conviction: "I am not bound, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/by-the-mind-one-is-bound-by-the-mind-one-is-freed-he-who-asserts-with/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [So long as the bee is outside the petals of the lily, and has not tasted the sweetness of its honey, it hovers around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/so-long-as-the-bee-is-outside-the-petals-of-the-lily-and-has-not/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God had created the world in play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-had-created-the-world-in-play/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Sugar and sand may be mixed together, but the ant rejects the sand and goes off with the sugar grain; so pious men lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/sugar-and-sand-may-be-mixed-together-but-the-ant-rejects-the-sand-and/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The world is impermanent. One should constantly remember death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-world-is-impermanent-one-should-constantly-remember-death/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Meditate upon the Knowledge and Bliss Eternal , and you will also have bliss. The Bliss indeed is eternal, only it is covered and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/meditate-upon-the-knowledge-and-bliss-eternal-and-you-will-also-have/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/as-for-me-i-consider-myself-as-a-speck-of-the-dust-of-the-devotee-s/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [We laugh at the efforts of the musk deer to find the source of the scent which comes from itself and despair at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/we-laugh-at-the-efforts-of-the-musk-deer-to-find-the-source-of-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Too much study of the scriptures does more harm than good. The important thing is to know the essence of the scriptures. After that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/too-much-study-of-the-scriptures-does-more-harm-than-good-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God has created the world in play, as it were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-has-created-the-world-in-play-as-it-were/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [One cannot completely get rid of the six passions: lust, anger, greed, and the like. Therefore one should direct them to God. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-cannot-completely-get-rid-of-the-six-passions-lust-anger-greed/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It's enough to have faith in one aspect of God. But never get into your head that your faith alone is true and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-s-enough-to-have-faith-in-one-aspect-of-god-but-never-get-into/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The supreme purpose and goal for human life... is to cultivate love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-supreme-purpose-and-goal-for-human-life-is-to-cultivate-love/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) [Explore all 165 Ramakrishna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the trunk struggles for some time, still showing signs of life. Similarly, though ahamkara (egotism) is slain in the perfect man, yet enough of its vitality is left to make him carry on the functions of physical life; but it is not sufficient to bind him again into the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ramakrishna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from-its-body-the-trunk-struggles/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from-its-body-the-trunk-struggles/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c15/ramakrishna-2451_body_when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from_1078318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the head of a goat is severed from its body, the trunk struggles for some time, still showing signs of…” — Ramakrishna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ramakrishna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the head of a goat...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from-its-body-the-trunk-struggles/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/when-the-head-of-a-goat-is-severed-from-its-body-the-trunk-struggles/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```