Your Body Is Just a Prison: The Bhagavad Gita Reveals Your True Identity
Nidhi | Jan 31, 2025, 16:15 IST
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that the body is just a temporary vessel while the soul is eternal. Explore how detaching from the body’s desires and identifying with the soul can bring true freedom and peace. Understand Krishna’s profound wisdom and how it can change the way we view life and our purpose in this world.
"न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥"– Bhagavad Gita, 2.20
"The soul is never born, and it never dies; it is not slain when the body is slain."
What if I told you that everything you see as “you” is not really you at all? The body, the thoughts, and the emotions—none of it defines your true essence. According to the Bhagavad Gita, this physical form you identify with is simply a temporary prison, and the real you is something far beyond. But how can this ancient wisdom change your life today? Let's delve deeper into this profound truth, as revealed in the timeless verses of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Gita offers a perspective that challenges the way we view our physical form. The body, as we know it, is temporary—a vehicle we temporarily inhabit as we journey through life. Our soul, on the other hand, is eternal, unchanging, and beyond the realm of birth and death.
In Chapter 2, Verse 14, Krishna gives us a crucial lesson:
"मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदा:। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥"
"O son of Kunti, the non-permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
Krishna teaches that our body experiences both joy and suffering, but these sensations are fleeting—like the seasons that change without our control. The body is constantly changing; it ages, it suffers, and eventually, it will pass. Yet, our soul, the true essence of who we are, is unaffected by these temporary states. It remains unchanged, like an observer watching the seasons unfold.
In Chapter 2, Verse 19, Krishna tells us:
"य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते॥"
"He who thinks that the soul kills, and he who thinks of it as killed, are both ignorant. The soul kills not, nor is it killed."
In this verse, Krishna reminds us that although the body may die, the soul is indestructible. The soul cannot be slain, nor can it be harmed. It is eternal, untouched by the physical world’s limitations. The body is simply a temporary vessel, but the soul remains constant throughout lifetimes.
Most of us live our lives identifying so strongly with our bodies that we forget about the soul within. The mind constantly reinforces this illusion by attaching us to desires, fears, and sensations—everything that comes from the body. We spend our lives chasing temporary pleasures and avoiding pain, not realizing that the more we identify with the body, the more we’re trapped in the cycle of suffering.
Lord Krishna advises us to detach from this temporary identification. In Chapter 2, Verse 47, He teaches:
"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥"
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction."
This verse teaches us to act selflessly, without getting caught in the outcome. When we are overly attached to the results of our actions or to our body’s desires, we create unnecessary suffering. By focusing on what’s within our control and surrendering to the eternal soul, we transcend the fleeting attachments of the body.
The Bhagavad Gita invites us to see beyond the illusion of the body and understand that we are not our physical form. The body may be a temporary prison, but the soul within it is free, eternal, and divine. By identifying with the soul and detaching from the body’s desires, we can experience true freedom, peace, and spiritual growth.
As Krishna says in Chapter 18, Verse 66:
"सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज। अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच:॥"
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear."
When we surrender our attachment to the body and embrace the soul, we unlock the key to liberation. You are not your body. You are the soul—eternal, boundless, and free.
"The soul is never born, and it never dies; it is not slain when the body is slain."
What if I told you that everything you see as “you” is not really you at all? The body, the thoughts, and the emotions—none of it defines your true essence. According to the Bhagavad Gita, this physical form you identify with is simply a temporary prison, and the real you is something far beyond. But how can this ancient wisdom change your life today? Let's delve deeper into this profound truth, as revealed in the timeless verses of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Body: A Temporary Vessel
Hinduism
In Chapter 2, Verse 14, Krishna gives us a crucial lesson:
"मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदा:। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥"
"O son of Kunti, the non-permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
Krishna teaches that our body experiences both joy and suffering, but these sensations are fleeting—like the seasons that change without our control. The body is constantly changing; it ages, it suffers, and eventually, it will pass. Yet, our soul, the true essence of who we are, is unaffected by these temporary states. It remains unchanged, like an observer watching the seasons unfold.
Why the Body Isn't You
Bhagavada Gita
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
"य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते॥"
"He who thinks that the soul kills, and he who thinks of it as killed, are both ignorant. The soul kills not, nor is it killed."
In this verse, Krishna reminds us that although the body may die, the soul is indestructible. The soul cannot be slain, nor can it be harmed. It is eternal, untouched by the physical world’s limitations. The body is simply a temporary vessel, but the soul remains constant throughout lifetimes.
The Illusion of Attachment
Mahabharata
Lord Krishna advises us to detach from this temporary identification. In Chapter 2, Verse 47, He teaches:
"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥"
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction."
This verse teaches us to act selflessly, without getting caught in the outcome. When we are overly attached to the results of our actions or to our body’s desires, we create unnecessary suffering. By focusing on what’s within our control and surrendering to the eternal soul, we transcend the fleeting attachments of the body.
Key Takeaways: The Body as a Prison
Gita Saar
- The Body Is Temporary, But the Soul Is Eternal: You are not your body. The body is like a worn-out garment that you shed over time. The soul is the true you—unchanging and eternal. Understanding this allows us to free ourselves from the fear of death and the limitations imposed by the body.
- Attachment to the Body Leads to Suffering: When we identify ourselves solely with the body, we attach ourselves to its desires, its fears, and its suffering. This attachment creates pain because the body is constantly changing. The soul, however, is immune to these fluctuations.
- The Soul’s Purpose Is Beyond Sensory Pleasures: The body’s desires are temporary and often lead to frustration. The soul, on the other hand, is here to experience growth, wisdom, and liberation. Focusing on the soul’s purpose allows us to let go of worldly distractions and live a life of peace and fulfillment.
- The Body Is a Tool, Not the True Self: The body serves as a tool to experience the results of our actions and to fulfill our karmic journey. But our true self, the soul, is untouched by these actions. By detaching from the body and focusing on the soul’s eternal nature, we free ourselves from the bondage of karma.
- True Freedom Lies in Identifying with the Soul: True liberation comes when we stop identifying with the fleeting body and instead recognize the soul as our true essence. This shift in perspective allows us to transcend fear, attachment, and suffering, embracing the peace and joy of our divine nature.
Embrace Your Soul's True Identity
Krishna Gita Gyan
As Krishna says in Chapter 18, Verse 66:
"सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज। अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच:॥"
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear."
When we surrender our attachment to the body and embrace the soul, we unlock the key to liberation. You are not your body. You are the soul—eternal, boundless, and free.