Body consciousness breeds human insecurity

It is a fact that no one would deny that in the present world, fear and worry are constant companions of humans. One who is immersed in the mundane world is not free from these unpleasant states. So, why and what do people worry about? Most of us worry about our health, safety, career, relationships, and overall well-being. There is not a single human being on earth who is free from fear.

Of course, we all have one or another kind of fear. Of all kinds of fear, the greatest fear is of losing. It could be the fear of losing a loved one, a valuable possession, a role or status, or anything else to which we are deeply attached because we believe our security and happiness depend on these factors. However, the greatest fear that most people have is the fear of death. Just the thought that it will all end is the most frightening fear that hounds people. No matter how far we have come in terms of material progress, we still cannot avoid grief, suffering, physical disease, and mortality. As long as we are bound by our physical existence, we will experience these in our human journey. We all know that our physical body is mortal, perishable, and subject to decay and disease, yet we are so attached to our physical form that we cannot overcome the fear of losing it. Many people across the world believe that there is only one human birth and there is no afterlife. Hence, they are even more fearful of dying. They live on a gross physical level, indulging their sensual desires as much as they can before dying because they think that is the whole purpose of their physical existence. But in this process, they often get tempted and trapped by vices, which in turn lead them to sin and suffering.

We must understand that when life is seen as a one-time physical existence driven by desires for sensual gratification or material progress, people tend to ignore the law of karma and do anything to get what they want. They go to the extent of stealing, grabbing, borrowing, or begging to have what they desire. As a result, their plans are limited to this life only, and they fall into the trap of greed, attachment, and ego. All this stems from the fundamental belief that we have wrongly created and sustained for ages-that we are physical bodies instead of spiritual beings or souls. We have forgotten that the body is a medium through which the soul expresses itself and experiences life, and that it is subject to decay and death and is limited by time and space. Today, most humans live in body consciousness, arising from false identification with the body. When the soul identifies with bodily characteristics, we limit ourselves as male or female, young or old, and by other outward labels. Such identities influence our thoughts and actions. Body consciousness becomes the greatest challenge for the soul, creating discriminatory attitudes and ego-driven complexes. We relate to others in a limited way, and this gives rise to insecurity, fear, selfishness, and hatred. Those ignorant of the soul remain bound by the body and live in a narrow manner. Hence, to live a liberated life, we must realise that we are spiritual beings in a human body, playing different roles across births. By becoming soul-conscious, we can transcend fears, attachments, and vices, overcome the fear of death and loss, and experience our original qualities of peace, joy, and love. This understanding transforms our perspective and leads to a fulfilling and fearless existence.

The writer is a spiritual educator and popular columnist; views are personal