The rivalry of the five bodily functions, and the superiority of breath

5.1.1 Verily, he who knows the chiefest and best becomes the chiefest and best. Breath, verily, is the chiefest and best.

5.1.2 Verily, he who knows the most excellent becomes the most excellent of his own people. Speech, verily, is the most excellent.

5.1.3 Verily, he who knows the firm basis has a firm basis both in this world and in the yonder. The eye, verily, is a firm basis.

5.1.4 Verily, he who knows attainment, for him wishes are attained, both human and heavenly. The ear, verily, is attainment.

5.1.5 Verily, he who knows the abode becomes an abode of his own people. The mind, verily, is the abode.

5.1.6 Now, the vital faculties disputed among themselves on self-superiority, saying in turn: "I am superior!" "I am superior!"

5.1.7 Those faculties went to their Lord, and said: "Sir! Which of us is the most superior?"

He said to them: "That one of you after whose going off the body appears as if it were the very worst off, he is the most superior of you."

5.1.8 Speech went off. Having remained away a year, it came around again, and said: "How have you been able to live without me?"

"As the dumb, not speaking, but breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. Thus."

Speech entered in.

5.1.9 The Eye went off. Having remained away a year, it came around again, and said: "How have you been able to live without me?"

"As the blind, not seeing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with speech, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. Thus."

The Eye entered in.

5.1.10 The Ear went off. Having remained away a year, it came around again, and said: "How have you been able to live without me?"

"As the deaf, not hearing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, thinking with the mind. Thus."

The Ear entered in.

5.1.11 The Mind went off. Having remained away a year, it came around again, and said: "How have you been able to live without me?"

"As simpletons, mindless, but breathing with the breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear. Thus."

The Mind entered in.

5.1.12 Now when the Breath was about to go off, as a fine horse might tear out the pegs of his foot-tethers all together, thus did it tear out the other faculties all together. They all came to it, and said: "Sir! Remain. You are the most superior of us. Do not go off."

5.1.13 Then Speech said unto that one: "If I am the most excellent, so are you the most excellent."

Then the Eye said unto that one: "If I am a firm basis, so are you a firm basis."

5.1.14 Then the Ear said unto that one: "If I am attainment, so are you attainment."

Then the Mind said unto that one: "If I am an abode, so are you an abode."

5.1.15 Verily, they do not call them "Speeches," nor "Eyes," nor "Ears," nor "Minds." They call them "Breaths," for the vital breath is all these.