If I Am The Soul Then Why Do I Need This Body?
Duality of life - body or soul. Which is more important in the path of the truth?
A short story of the sage and his disciples.
A sage was preaching to his disciples.
You have got this human body, Due to the virtue of innumerable births.
Cherish and celebrate this human life. You never know when it will end.
These precious breaths are a gift.
Why should you waste it?
Don't let it go in vain.
Listening to these words of the sage.
One of his disciples was intrigued by the words of the sage.
He asked.
Gurudev!
Every school of thought. Every philosophy (except charvaka) of this world preaches.
I'm not this body, senses, memory, mind, intelligence, experience or ego.
In the end, this creation will be reduced to ashes.
Only one thing remains, I.
I am the source. I am the light. I am the consciousness. I am the soul.
“Don’t you know yet? It is your light that lights the world.” - Rumi
Then.
What is the importance of this body?
The sage smiled and replied.
My son!
In this world, everyone knows the truth.
But, some just deny it. Some argue. Some feed it in the memory. Some experience it. Some realise it in their heart. And then comes the one who lives by it.
And for all this play of life.
The soul needs an amalgamation of senses, mind, memory and intelligence.
Therefore, this body becomes the medium in the journey of truth.
To argue, experience, realise, enlighten and then live the truth.
Like the fragrance is the essence of the flower.
But for that fragrance to spread we need to have a flower also.
Similarly, the soul is the essence of existence.
But to exist and experience, it needs the body.
The disciple gets perplexed now.
He asked the sage.
Gurudev!
If the body has such importance in the path of the truth, then why does the learned say the body is the trap for the soul?
The sage affectionately replied.
My son!
When the soul enters the body, it forgets its real identity and gets attached to the body.
It identifies itself from the name, relationships, experiences and memory.
It becomes the slave of the insatiable senses.
The more you chase the more it increases your thirst.
And this eternal cycle keeps on moving.
The disciple gets more perplexed now by the words of the sage.
He asked the sage.
Gurudev!
Is this body good or bad?
The sage replied.
My son!
The truth is that this body is neither good nor bad.
It is just a medium. A tool.
It is the attachment to the body which leads to suffering and pain.
This body is the doorway to slavery as well as the doorway to freedom.
It is your free choice which door you want to open.
Listening to answers, the disciple gets satisfied.
He astonishingly asked the sage.
Gurudev!
If body is just a medium then where does the truth reside?
Please clear this fog of doubt and light me up with the knowledge.
Listening to these innocent questions of his curious disciple, the sage replied.
My son!
Whether learned or ignorant, Everyone has the same face.
Wicked always knocks, In the veil of sage.
Everyone is fighting for the truth, Dressed in different clothes.
The shadow of pride is expanding, And the world is steeped in selfishness.
Darkness is preaching about light, And everyone is searching for love and a peaceful life.
But, you just understand one thing, The truth always resides in the heart.
You don't need to search for the truth anywhere else
Search within. In the soul.
The lamp of love you are searching for is burning within you.
Let it be the guiding light in the path.
Let the love and light within you only reign.
“With every breath, I plant seeds of devotion. Be soulful. Be kind. Be in love.” - Rumi
