If Everything We Own Is Borrowed from the Universe, What Is Truly Ours?
Nidhi | Mar 23, 2025, 23:49 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
We often believe we own things—our wealth, relationships, and even our bodies. But what if everything we have is just borrowed from the universe? This article explores the illusion of ownership, the role of karma, and what truly belongs to us beyond material possessions. With insights from the Bhagavad Gita and real-life wisdom, it unveils the secret to a meaningful, detached, and purposeful life.
Everything we own—our wealth, our possessions, even our bodies—doesn’t belong to us forever. The house you build, the car you drive, the name you carry—one day, they will all be left behind. But if nothing is truly ours, then what remains? What do we actually possess in this fleeting journey called life?
Ancient wisdom, especially from the Bhagavad Gita, suggests that everything we perceive as ours is simply borrowed from the universe, and the only thing we truly own is our actions, our choices, and the impact we leave behind. So, what does this mean for the way we live?
"ममत्वं नास्ति वस्तुषु, केवलं स्वप्नसङ्कल्पः।"
(Nothing truly belongs to us; it is merely a dream-like illusion.)
From childhood, we are conditioned to believe in ownership—my toy, my home, my success. But have you ever wondered, do we actually own anything? A person may spend a lifetime accumulating wealth, only for it to be divided among others after they are gone.
Maybe, true ownership is not about possessing things but about experiencing and appreciating them without attachment. The more we let go, the lighter we become.
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।”
(You have a right to perform your duty, but never to the results. – Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
If you could carry only one thing beyond this life, what would it be? Certainly not money or status. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that the only thing that stays with us is karma—our actions and the energy they create. Every choice we make, every kindness we show, every lesson we learn—it all becomes part of our karmic footprint.
Instead of accumulating material things, what if we focused on accumulating good deeds, wisdom, and compassion? That’s the only wealth that can never be taken away.
We often forget that even our bodies don’t belong to us permanently. The very skin, bones, and breath we identify with are temporary—they, too, are borrowed from nature and will one day return to it.
So, if we don’t own even ourselves, what do we control? Our intentions. Our choices. How we treat others. Maybe, instead of obsessing over physical perfection or external validation, we should focus on how we use this temporary vessel to create something meaningful.
“त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः।”
(One who renounces attachment to results, who is always content and independent, is truly free. – Bhagavad Gita 4.20)
Most of our suffering comes from attachment—the fear of losing what we think is ours. But imagine living in a way where you enjoy everything without clinging to it. You love without possession, work without obsession, and give without expecting in return.
Maybe, real peace comes when we realize that nothing truly belongs to us—so there’s nothing to lose. And in that freedom, we find the courage to truly live.
If everything we own is borrowed, what truly belongs to us? Our essence. The way we made people feel. The kindness we showed. The wisdom we passed on. These are the only things that live beyond us.
We remember great souls not for their riches but for their impact. Krishna, Buddha, and countless enlightened beings left behind no possessions—only their words, their wisdom, and their love. Maybe, the purpose of life is not to own, but to give.
Perhaps, the only thing we own is our ability to choose—how we respond to life, how we treat others, and how we shape our own destiny.
As the Gita reminds us, "Nothing in this world is ours to keep, but everything is ours to experience." So, live fully, love freely, and leave behind something that truly matters.
What do you think is truly yours in this life?
Ancient wisdom, especially from the Bhagavad Gita, suggests that everything we perceive as ours is simply borrowed from the universe, and the only thing we truly own is our actions, our choices, and the impact we leave behind. So, what does this mean for the way we live?
1. The Illusion of Possession: What We Think We Own
Self Interpretation
( Image credit : Freepik )
(Nothing truly belongs to us; it is merely a dream-like illusion.)
From childhood, we are conditioned to believe in ownership—my toy, my home, my success. But have you ever wondered, do we actually own anything? A person may spend a lifetime accumulating wealth, only for it to be divided among others after they are gone.
Maybe, true ownership is not about possessing things but about experiencing and appreciating them without attachment. The more we let go, the lighter we become.
2. The Only True Currency: Karma and Its Echo
Wealth
( Image credit : Freepik )
(You have a right to perform your duty, but never to the results. – Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
If you could carry only one thing beyond this life, what would it be? Certainly not money or status. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that the only thing that stays with us is karma—our actions and the energy they create. Every choice we make, every kindness we show, every lesson we learn—it all becomes part of our karmic footprint.
Instead of accumulating material things, what if we focused on accumulating good deeds, wisdom, and compassion? That’s the only wealth that can never be taken away.
3. Borrowed Time, Borrowed Body: What Is Truly Ours?
Nothing is Yours
( Image credit : Pexels )
So, if we don’t own even ourselves, what do we control? Our intentions. Our choices. How we treat others. Maybe, instead of obsessing over physical perfection or external validation, we should focus on how we use this temporary vessel to create something meaningful.
4. The Joy of Detachment: Living Without Fear of Loss
Spirituality
( Image credit : Pexels )
(One who renounces attachment to results, who is always content and independent, is truly free. – Bhagavad Gita 4.20)
Most of our suffering comes from attachment—the fear of losing what we think is ours. But imagine living in a way where you enjoy everything without clinging to it. You love without possession, work without obsession, and give without expecting in return.
Maybe, real peace comes when we realize that nothing truly belongs to us—so there’s nothing to lose. And in that freedom, we find the courage to truly live.
5. What Do We Leave Behind? The Legacy of Our Soul
Chaos
( Image credit : Pexels )
We remember great souls not for their riches but for their impact. Krishna, Buddha, and countless enlightened beings left behind no possessions—only their words, their wisdom, and their love. Maybe, the purpose of life is not to own, but to give.
So, What Is Truly Ours?
As the Gita reminds us, "Nothing in this world is ours to keep, but everything is ours to experience." So, live fully, love freely, and leave behind something that truly matters.
What do you think is truly yours in this life?