Human life becomes meaningful only when an individual probes one’s true identity. To think of oneself as the body is the natural tendency in beings, to the extent of ignoring the welfare of the self that abides within it. Krishna makes it absolutely clear that a proper understanding of the dichotomy between the body and the self is the basis of higher knowledge and reinforces this repeatedly as He teaches the paths of karma, jnana and bhakti in stages, pointed out Swami Omkarananda in a lecture.
Every being and object in the entire creation — from a blade of grass to Brahma — is a rare blend of the gross and the subtle. The gross aspect, perceived as the various forms such as celestial, human, animal, etc, is subject to birth, growth, decay and death. The subtle aspect is the self and it is eternal. The Supreme Brahman is the all-pervading presence responsible for this principle both at the macro and micro level of creation.
The self assumes different bodies in its journey through the cycle of birth. When it has the good fortune to gain a human form, it should realise that it is a temporary abode to experience joy or sorrow according to one’s past karma. Krishna compares the body to a Kshetra or a field that can be tilled and cultivated to gain salvation. If the predisposition is towards the body, the desire for worldly objects becomes central and all actions are directed towards achieving this goal. The thought of salvation gets eclipsed. But when one desires to know one’s true nature, he is sure to grasp the remarkable quality of the self within and of the Supreme Power which is the prime cause of oneself and the entire creation. The focus then automatically shifts towards dharma, jnana and salvation.
