Divine forces are generous to us if our desires are aligned with the material nature, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
Our bodies are made up of eight elements (Bhagavad Gita 7.4), out of which four are gross and three are subtle. The gross elements are: earth, water, fire/energy and air. The subtle elements are: mind, intelligence, self-sense/ego. The eighth element is ether or space. Our bodies are material machines (18.61), and they are parts of the material nature. The material nature gives us bodies as per our karmas; they are results of the karmas done over previous lives. And our bodies are not independent machines; they are controlled by the material nature. Diseases, though not desired by us, appear according to our karmaphalas. Death also comes as destined. Though we can do plenty to keep our bodies fit, the control always remains with the material nature.
Let us go into some details of the functioning of our bodies. People get well functioning bodies, i.e. without serious genetic defects, if they have been good in their past lives. Divine forces are generous to us if our desires are aligned with the material nature. God uses us as His nimitta or instruments for what pleases Him, which is to promote dharma by preaching God’s messages. Rather God is most pleased by sincere preachers. (18.68-69) Arjuna was given all kinds of favours by Lord Krishna, because he agreed to act as Lord’s instrument. (18.73) This should motivate us to use our bodies the best way possible, maybe in God’s service.
In order to be able to do all of the above, we must maintain our bodies nicely. How do we do that? Lord Krishna has guided in The Gita, “ One whose eating and recreation are appropriate; of one who strives appropriately in activities; of one who sleeps and stays awake as required, avoids lots of suffering. (6.17) The Lord has specially mentioned eating, recreation, activities and sleep. Let me start with eating. What determines what we eat? Either due to weakness for taste or ignorance about what we should be eating, most of us harms our material bodies, which are material machines, as pointed out earlier. Unfortunately, some of us are more careful about what we put in our vehicles than what we put into our mouths. And our material bodies are constituted by what we put in. Not surprisingly, we suffer many diseases, which could have been avoided. Those, who eat foods in, goodness enjoy good health for most of their lives extending to the old age.
Like eating, recreation is also important for us, but the choice has to be intelligent. When we confuse recreation to be watching programmers made in the lower modes, we hurt ourselves, i.e. we bring suffering to ourselves. The third factor to watch out for is activities, i.e. what we do and how much. Both should be proper. The last activity mentioned in the verse is sleeping. This is where many go horribly wrong; they feel that the quantum of sleep can be decided irrespective of the needs of the body. The human machine work best when properly rested, i.e. slept the required number of hours.
One must not forget the mind and the intelligence. Both are crucial for the efficient functioning of the body. The mind is forever desiring/thinking of something. The intelligence should be used to rein in the mind. Unfortunately, our intelligence is mostly not aligned with the realities of life, because we ignore to look up our scriptures, which provide the higher information of what dharma is, who God is, what is material nature’s role in our lives is, etc. The whole existence is one unitary whole and we are all parts of the same. Existence in isolation is a non-starter.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com
