The Importance of Understanding We are Not the Body
By:Babhru Dasa (BVKS)
In this world there are many different views on the position of the self. Some people claim that personal existence is nothing more than the conception that we are the body, which is comprised of different material elements and chemicals. Such people claim that the soul does not exist. They often ascribe to the theory that describes the material mind as being “one” with the consciousness. People who are of this type of mentality generally promote a lifestyle which is permeated with materialism and atheism.
“First of all one must understand what he is. If he does not know what he is, he is wrongly directed. He is taking care of the body. Just like he, the cage and bird. If you simply take care of the cage without taking care of the bird, is that very good knowledge? That is foolishness.” – Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Another viewpoint which is popular is that the human soul and the mind are non-different. Advocators of this position assert that the body is not the self but rather our mind and intelligence is who we really are. This stance is often based off a sentimental idea and is not actually based on authentic spiritual teachings and scriptures. Thus many questions and problems manifest with this line of logic. At least this view point gradually moves one away from gross atheism and leaves them open for further understanding.
The last major proposition which is advocated by pure spiritualists states that the body, mind, and intelligence are all of the material nature (gross to subtle respectively) and are different from our true nature as spirit soul. Staunch spiritualists proclaim that the soul is transcendental to all material realities and can never be influenced by material time and space. Nor can it ever be contaminated or polluted. In Bhagavad-gita Sri Krsna confirms this:
“Those with the vision of eternity can see that the imperishable soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature. Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.” -Bhagavad-Gita 13.32
The common person may even wonder, “why does it matter if we have a a soul? I just want to live my life and whatever happens at the time of death, that is ok.” Even hearing such a statement reiterates how deep the average persons bodily consciousness really goes. It is not that we have a soul, it is that we are souls.
“It is not that we are humans on a spiritual journey, but that we are spiritual beings on a human journey.” – Unknown
Why is it important to understand this? Because identification with the body, mind, intelligence, and false ego are the root causes of all of our problems and suffering. One who identifies with the gross body (comprised of earth, air, fire, water, ether.) and the subtle body (mind, intelligence, and false ego) is always forced to act according to the prospect of attaining happiness within their domains.
For example, to satisfy the urges of the gross body the human is always engaged in acquiring palatable foods, seeing beautiful sights, hearing pleasing sounds, touching the body of the opposite sex, and smelling nice fragrances. To satisfy the subtle body, people are always engaged in seeking out “love,” companionship, experiences which stimulate the imagination etc. Going even deeper, the living entities always find themselves hankering after control of situations and of other peoples lives, proprietorship, recognition, fame etc.
“The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust. Through them lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.”- BG 3.40
“Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born from the material modes of nature. Therefore, no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.” -BG 3.5
In this way the living entity is always driven by these ambitions and depending on the results of their actions, happiness and distress will come accordingly. Actually, within the material world it is impossible to have happiness without distress. Everyone can attest to the fact that all people strive for happiness but inevitably distress and suffering follow shortly behind. This occurs because the material realm and all its workings are temporary, flimsy, and without real substance. If one is honest with them-self they will admit that all happiness they have achieved was very short lived and never quite met up to the desired expectation.
Due to the temporal nature of this material existence one should always strive to understand the immutable, eternal reality which the soul is intimately connected with from time immemorial. Such a person striving for self-realization does not take very seriously material happiness or distress, as both are independent of the soul and come and go just like the waves of the ocean.
“O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.” -BG 2.15
It is a fact that satisfaction is not possible within the material sphere. Because of being unsatisfied, one is always driven to attain more and more subtle and gross sense gratification. In this way they become increasingly engrained in bodily consciousness and forget all about their true existence as the spiritual soul. In Bhagavad-gita it is described that this lust for material enjoyment is the root cause of all illusion, suffering, and many other vices which are manifest in such materially motivated persons.
“Therefore, the living entities pure consciousness is covered over by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.” -BG 3.39
As briefly mentioned above, when this lust is not satisfied it in turn gets transformed into other negative emotions and feelings. Generally speaking the average citizen is not looking to cultivate these negative qualities (what to speak of those attempting to cultivate spiritual revelation) but unfortunately, one can not stop the natural reactions of their materialistic way of life. To confirm this point, Sri Krishna states the same in the following way:
“It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.”- BG 3.37
Therefore Krishna gives the following remedy to counteract the possibility of acquiring and fortifying these lower “animalistic” tendencies and qualities.
“Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Kṛṣṇa consciousness] and thus — by spiritual strength — conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.” -Bg 3.43
In the above statement, Krishna is providing the segue for which a materialistic person can start to approach the spiritual reality. He also describes that the only way to actually overcome material lust and other negative influences on the consciousness is through spiritual enlightenment.
When one actually understands that they are the soul and not the body, they will inevitably strive to understand and uncover the highest reality which is located therein. The spirit soul is described in the various scriptures around the world as being eternal (sat), all-blissful (ananda), and all-knowledgable (chit). When a persons consciousness shifts from being focused on the material body to the focal point of the soul, they start to perceive reality in a completely different way.
“When one’s intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.” -BG. 5.17
Instead of seeing them-self at the center of reality, they instead realize them-self to be on the periphery of the absolute broader existence. They see God in the center of everything and understand that they are simply a minute particle of His divine realm and existence. Instead of trying to please their temporary material body, mind, intelligence, and false ego, they start to try and please God via different processes of meditation, prayer, or yoga. The culmination of all spiritual practices is pure loving devotional service to God (Bhakti-Yoga.)
“And of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” -BG. 6.47
The following scriptural verse provides an in-depth analysis of a person’s mentality who has recently acquired the aspiration for spiritual revelation.
“O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.” -CC. M 22.16
When taking up the process of bhakti-yoga the practitioner finds himself more and more merged in an ocean of happiness. This occurs due to the rendering of loving service to the eternal absolute who is indeed the fountainhead of all bliss (God.) Such service is the natural constitutional position of the soul and by rendering such to God we quickly awaken our inherent and forgotten qualities.
“The Supreme Absolute Truth is called Rāma because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence.”- Chaitanya-charitamrta M.9.29
Furthermore, through such service and cultivation of love for God our previous negative qualities and in turn interactions with others, decrease exponentially until they are completely eradicated all together. This occurs because the person situated on the spiritual platform does not see other living entities as his competitor. He sees them as a spirit soul, a dear friend, a lost child of God. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu confirms this in his own spoken teachings:
“Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.” -Sri Sikshastakam.”
In this way, through cultivating pure love for God, one naturally starts to love everyone and everything in all of existence. Such a soul simply thinks, “how can I serve God in every situation, and how can I help others to come to this platform also?” When a spiritualist attains the eternal blissful reality within, they naturally want to help others attain this stage also. They see all the living entities of this mortal world striving for selfish material enjoyment. The true servant of God can not stand to let others suffer in their futile attempts to acquire mundane pleasure.
“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” -Srimad-bhagavatam 7.9.43
The person who sees everything in connection with God and acts appropriately is certainly the best among men. He is peaceful, humble, compassionate, knowledgeable, and the best friend of all living entities. He is self-satisfied and always rejoices within the self. He can not be affected by pride, envy, lust, anger, greed, or illusion. Upon attainment of the highest enlightenment (God-realization) one can never be dragged down into the sufferable illusory world again.
“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.”-BG 8.16
By understanding this knowledge and trying to act with it as our guide, we can easily realize and experience the extermination of material suffering while simultaneously opening ourself up to the unlimited flow of love of God, which progressively permeates all of ones existence and field of activities. Such an existence which ultimately has its culmination as entrance into and the divine realm of God, is eternal and unlimitedly increasing at every moment.
“Pure love of God manifests as the most subtle consciousness, devoid of material qualities and material desires, increasing at every moment, and never interrupted.” – Narada-bhakti-sutra 54