The journey of the body and the soul are separate yet inter-related, writes Ajit Kumar Bishnoi
We consider ourselves as one, ie our material body but we are in two distinct parts. These are: us souls and our bodies. Both are journeying separately. let me begin with the description of soul’s journey. Such journey is eternal from this body to the next. These bodies can be material as well as what is not material like ours. Such bodies are that of gods and goddesses and of those residing in ‘Vaikuntha’ – the abode of God. Soul is never bound, ie it retains its original characteristic of being eternal, conscious and bliss. Yes, it takes the mind and the five senses when he leaves a body to go to the next (Geeta 15.8), except when a soul gets liberated. Then, it has no need for the material mind and the five material senses. Also, the soul carries the unfinished deeds both good and bad to the next birth in a material body. This sequence also ends when a soul is freed from the cycle of birth and death.
A soul is never condemned; it is punished but never consigned to extinction, because soul is eternal no matter what acts he does. lord Krishna addresses this issue in various verses of the Geeta. He states in the verse #9.30 and 31, “Even if a person of very bad conduct begins worshipping Me with undivided attention, he should be considered pious only, because he is now engaged properly. He becomes righteous soon only; achieves lasting peace. Believe that My devotee never perishes.” On the other hand, those who continue in their abominable activities, the lord punishes them by sending them to demonic species. (16.19)
A soul can turn things around soon by superior behaviour ie by engaging in karma-yoga. The lord states, “Even a little of this karma-yoga protects one from great fear.” (2.40) The lord further states, “Neither in this world nor even beyond there is his destruction, because doer of welfare acts does not end up badly. (6.40) Rather a yogi is not disturbed even by a big suffering. (6.22)
Our material bodies have been very carefully created. I do not believe that any human being can even come to close to create such a versatile machine, with which we can perform so many tasks. The soul requires to act through a body; it does not do so on its own. A soul, as a matter of fact, performs only three functions, i.e. desiring, deciding and enjoying or suffering as a consequence. The human body works the best when its eating and recreation are appropriate; it strives appropriately in activities, and it sleeps and stays awake as required. Then, its sufferings are less. (6.17) Yoga is successful neither of one who eats too much and nor of one who eats too little, nor of one who is habituated to sleep too much and not of one who stays awake too much. (6.16)
This material body undergoes many changes. There are four distinct changes. These are: childhood, youth, old age and getting another body. (2.14) This last change is like a person giving up worn-out clothes and accepting others, which are new. A soul accepts new bodies after leaving old/useless bodies. (2.22)
God performs many activities from inside of these material bodies. He states, “I am present in the hearts of all. From Me only memory, knowledge and removal of delusion takes place. (15.15) God, present in the material body, activates all beings by His own potency. (18.61) And, I only, situated in the bodies of all living entities by becoming Vaishvanara, having prana and apana air, digest four kinds of foods. (15.14) The lord does not stop there when He states, “Those people who worship Me with undivided attention, meditating on Me, for those regular practitioners of yoga, I help in getting what one does not have and provide security of what one has. (9.22) One can avoid bondage to activity by proper knowledge. Not desirous of enjoying fruits of action, in control over the self, having given up all material possessions, a person engaged in action only for the maintenance of one’s body, does not get afflicted by reaction of bondage to activity. (4.21)
Yes, these are two separate journeys but they are related also; they affect one another like the mind and the body. However, the souls, journey is more important because it continues; the body’s journey ends at some point. Generally, there is no conflict between these two journeys but they must help one another — a soul must desire and decide what is good for its material body. let us pay attention to both journeys and benefit.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com