Swami ji said…
How happy are we when we are complimented on our looks, our height, our hair, our glowing skin, our lean frame? We check ourselves gleefully, time and time again, in the mirror to re-affirm the compliment that has been paid to us. And are happy on seeing the stunning vision reflected in the mirror validating this well-deserved praise. A few among us – blessed with beauty – might not even need any kind of confirmation from anyone else – so well aware are we of the beauty we are endowed with. And, thus we take upon ourselves – dutifully – what otherwise could be laborious to many – the everyday routine of maintaining a perfect external appearance. Because that is what we feel matters the most to us – and , woefully , to others too.
Of course ! It is essential for each one of us to take care of our physical health ; to develop immunity and to stay strong and fit. But, to be obsessed with one’s desire to only ‘look’ good all the time, can in no way contribute to our spiritual growth and will only keep us away from the ‘Truth’ – which should be known to us from early on – that we are not the ‘body’ but a ‘जीव – आत्मा’ ! We must never forget – ‘हम ‘देह’ नही, देही हैँ …’
How meaningless would our life be, if, we were to focus – only on our ‘body’ all the time ? “हमें
सारा समय , अपना ध्यान अपने देह , अपने शारीर, पर केंद्रित नहीं करना चाहिए…” Is there any point in just ‘looking’ good and not pay any attention to how we ‘feel’- within – which is most important ? Are ‘we’ determined to use the ‘body’ in the right manner and steer it onto the path of ‘satya’, ‘nek karma’, ‘ ‘achchi soch’ – thereby purifying ‘ourselves’ – our ‘soul’ further – or waste this lifetime by just remaining fixated on the ‘body’?
The body, with which we form an unbreakable bond ; are so much in love with and deeply attached to – as we feel we will live forever – has to inevitably break one day – as the ‘soul’ will shed it off.The cause or reason could be any.The most natural one being old age. Rather than giving undue importance to the body and pampering it all the time, we need to remind ourselves that – we are the ‘soul’, we are ‘permanent’, that we have always been here and will always be here. The ‘soul’ is indestructible – because of which the wise say – ‘ We never die.’ The body, on the other hand is like a cloth – worn for some time – before being discarded for another – as embodied by the cycle of life and death – of the ‘body’.
And, just like we wash the stains from our clothes to keep them – and thereby ourselves clean – we must also ask ourselves – whether we do the same for our mind and thoughts ? How much care and concern do we show for the kind of thoughts that go through our mind ? Do we try to nourish our mind the same we way we nourish the body ? Do we maintain a strict vigil over what goes on and into our mind ? Do we try to enrich it with knowledge and create every opportunity possible to purify the ‘soul’ ? A popular saying – ‘ We are what we eat ‘ – is applicable to the body. In the same way – it is what is fed to the mind ; the diet that we provide to the mind – is what matters the most – to the soul.
We must make a habit of relating with the ‘soul’, in the same way, in which, we associate ourselves with the ‘body’.Slight scratches and bruises on the body are nursed with great care , tenderly and are checked to see whether they are healing well – but , we are not even aware of the hundreds and thousands of wounds and lacerations that are inflicted by us on the ‘soul’ – again and again – in our lifetime. We lie blatantly ; deceive others without blinking ; embrace corruption – without a care in the world – scarring the ‘soul’ for ever.
The moment we start thinking of ‘ourselves’ as distinct from the ‘body’ – we will begin to live life in a more apt and balanced manner. The body, like a tool, is a means to an end. And, in our case, it is to carry out good actions , do good ‘karma’ and free ourselves from this world. It is this perspective that can free many of us from the frivolous concerns of our physical appearance – and rather focus on feeling good – in mind and heart.
We should not forget that it is the body that ages ; feels
and knows pain when it suffers. It is not the ‘soul’ that falls ill , hurts or ages.The body is the means through which we are made to pay for our bad ‘karma’. Why then should we be so attached to it ? Instead, we must ensure that it is healthy – so that we can make good of it – for a task most important ; for our liberation from this world. That should in all – be its main purpose to us and no other – and a spiritual seeker must use his body in the most effective manner to reach the highest goal.
Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji 