Science of Identity Foundation:

Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessing of immortality.
  ~Sri Ishopanishad, Mantra Eleven

Some neophytes on the spiritual path may fall into the illusion that taking care of the body is somehow evil, or a sign of spiritual backwardness. Not only may they neglect the needs of the body, but they may go out of their way to actually damage the body. Such people actually hate the body. They see it as a source of misery, and thus they take out their anger on it. This is certainly a mistake.
Science of Identity Foundation – Chris Butler Speaks

TEACHER: There appears to be a contradiction only if we look at the matter through the eyes of the impersonalists. The impersonalists see the Absolute Truth as formless and impersonal. The Vaishnavas, however, recognize three predominant features of the Absolute Truth: the impersonal Brahman, the Supersoul, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.6 Of the three features, the personal form of God is held to be superior.7 Although this is supported in Bhagavad-gita, the Upanishads, etc., it is rejected by the Mayavadi philosophers. As we proceed with our discussions it will become evident why Shankara and his successors found it necessary to strictly interpret certain verses from the Vedic scriptures and reject or deny others. At a later time, we can also discuss in greater depth the three features of the Absolute Truth. For now, suffice it to say that the Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses unlimited and inconceivable transcendental energies. Just as the sun expands itself in the form of unlimited sunshine, and yet never becomes depleted, so also the Absolute expands His energies and yet remains ever the same. Although the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are innumerable, there are nevertheless three primary potencies. One of these potencies is the living entities. This is described in the Vishnu Purana, where the living entity is described as part of the spiritual potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.8 Since it is part of the spiritual potency, the essence of the individual soul is spirit or Brahman. This does not mean that the living entity is the Supreme Brahman, however, as there is a difference between the energy and the Energetic. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Energetic, and He expands Himself in the form of His inconceivable energies. Although the energy and the Energetic are one in quality, quantitatively they cannot be compared. As such, the energy is always in the subordinate position. When we speak about the sun, we can’t separate it from the sunshine. The sun itself is the energetic, and it is the source of the sunshine which is its energy. Qualitatively speaking, the energetic sun and its energy in the form of sunshine are the same. There is heat and light in the sunrays, and there is also heat and light in the sun itself. Therefore, we can’t consider that the sunrays are somehow separate from the sun planet. What’s more, even though the sun is continually producing so many sunrays, the sun itself is not lessened in size or potency. It remains as it is, changeless and indivisible. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman, although expanding Himself through His energies, remains as He is; He does not undergo change, nor does He lose potency.9 Therefore, the Vaishnavas find no contradiction between their assertion that the living being is Brahman and the statements in the shastra which declare that Brahman is indivisible and without change.