Soul & Body

The Relationship Between The Soul And The Body 

Human being means the consciousness, the soul or being (living energy), experiencing life through the physical body, the human (non-living). The body is perishable and temporary, whereas the soul is eternal and without physical dimension. • The soul is the driver; the body is the car. • The soul is the actor; the body is its costume. • The soul is a diamond; the body is the jewelry box. • The soul is the musician; the body is the instrument. • The soul is the guest; the body is the hotel. • The soul is the deity; the body is the temple. 

I can use a knife to chop vegetables. I can use the same knife to kill someone. The knife neither decides (outwards) nor experiences (inwards), but can be washed easily under water. Now look at the fingers which held the knife. They neither decide nor experience the actions. They too can be washed under water. It's easy to realize that the knife is an instrument, but it is more difficult to realize that the fingers as well as the arms are instruments too. The legs are instruments for walking, the eyes for seeing, the ears for hearing, the mouth for speaking, the tongue for tasting, the heart for pumping food and oxygen (via blood) around the body, and so on. Even the brain is an instrument used like a computer to express all thought, word and action programs through the body and to experience the results. 


If every physical part of the body is an instrument, who or what is it that is using this instrument? Very simply it is I, the self, the soul. The soul uses the word I for itself and the word my when referring to the body; my hands, my eyes, my brain, etc. 

I am different from my body. So to think I am a body with a spirit inside is like confining the soul to house arrest.

Consciousness remains small, held prisoner inside the confines of bodily awareness. Considering myself to be a soul allows consciousness to fly free beyond the physical limitations defined by my body. 

Today let me expand my consciousness by considering this simple thought “I am a soul, I have a body".

About the shlok's in Gita

Total 700 shloka

1. By Chapter

• Chapter 1 has total 47 shloka
• Chapter 2 has total 72 shloka
• Chapter 3 has total 43 shloka
• Chapter 4 has total 42 shloka
• Chapter 5 has total 29 shloka
• Chapter 6 has total 47 shloka
• Chapter 7 has total 30 shloka
• Chapter 8 has total 28 shloka
• Chapter 9 has total 34 shloka
• Chapter 10 has total 42 shloka
• Chapter 11 has total 55 shloka
• Chapter 12 has total 20 shloka
• Chapter 13 has total 34 shloka
• Chapter 14 has total 27 shloka
• Chapter 15 has total 20 shloka
• Chapter 16 has total 24 shloka
• Chapter 17 has total 28 shloka
• Chapter 18 has total 78 shloka

2. By who said it

• Dhritrashtra : 1
• Sanjay :  40
• Arjun : 85
• Krishna : 574

3. By Topic mentioning

• Gunas : 78
• Atma : TBC
• Food : TBC
• Soul : TBC
• Action & Fruit of Action : TBC

4. The shloks are in 32 Syllables called Anustup

Gita & Indian movie "Dangerous Ishq"

In this movie a past life regression therapist mentions that what Indians believe about soul carrying memories & impressions is now the basis of therapy and acknowledged in the West.


15.8 There is a mention how the memories (built up thru senses) go along with Atma to next life. Just like air carries the scent of flowers.

Gita and Vivek Chuda Mani - 2

Inherent Qualities of a spiritual seeker mentioned in VCM

• Health body
• Intelligence
• Education
• Comprehension
• Desire for liberation 
• Exercise reason to remove doubt

( In Gita 2.07 mentions surrender,  in chap 6 it is mentioned that one who strives on this path will be reborn in conducive environment to continue the journey)

Cultivated Qualities as mentioned in VCM

• Discrimination
• Renunciation of fruits of action
• 6 treasures Shad Sampathi

1.         Sama- Equality
2.         Dhama – Self control
3.         Uparathi – not react to external stimuli
4.         Thithiksha – forbearance
5.         Shradha – faith
6.         Samadhana – self surrender

( In Chap 2 qualities of a Stith Pragyaa are listed and Chap 3 lists attributes of Karam Yogi, in Chap 5 that of a Realised Soul , in Chap a Bhatka virtues & in Chap 14 that of a Gunaatit. In Gita Chap 16 divine qualities are mentioned. All are interconnected)

Qualifications of the Guru

• Well versed in scriptures
• Free from lust
• Continually established in Brahman
• Calm like a flame. 
• Ocean of love (No ulterior motives)
• Friend to all people who entrust themselves to them

(In Gita in 4.34 mentions illumined souls) 

Some dimensions

Appears all spirituality boils down to a combination of

1. SRT : Satwa, Rajas & Tamas
2. BMI : Body, Mind & Intellect
3. YTD : Yagya, Tapah & Daan

Plus the Bhav : Emotion & Intention

A Satwik activity , at Body level of giving Daan : but intention & emotion  is to tick off is to tick of a list or gain recognition!!!!

Sleeping (Tamas) thru a ritual that is going t last 10 hours!!! But with the intention to be more useful at the end for clean up....what would that be????

Doing Tap of observing fast ( abstaining at body level) and the Mind is imagining gourmet food....now what would this be called???


Gita touches on these elements right from Chap 2 and repeats all thru and finally in Chap 18 mentions them again.

Gita and Vivek Chuda Mani -1

Attended a session on this and sharing ...

Vivek Chuda Mani (VCM) is said to be the Crest Jewel of Discrimination.
This scripture is said to give clarity to concepts learnt in Gita.

Relatively speaking Gita is a polite, advise & suggestions by Krishna. And he gives options and ways to liberation.
In VCM Adi Shankracharya is direct, factual & almost hard hitting for some.

Both are dialogues between Guru & Disciple and sharing about knowledge about eternal truth and path to liberation.

This scriptures helps in discriminating the right from wrong. Real from unreal. And move towards liberation.

Chapter 1 : Another summary

Chapter 1 is about the setting the scene. Introducing the folks and loads of symbolism.

The fact that Duryodhan was boasting bragging about his position (nervous release in tension). He wants Bhishma to be protected as he is useful to him.

Arjuna starts on an egoistic front & a confident warrior : Let me check out the people who want to fight with me ! And then in delusion and confusion gives logic to all the excuses for not fighting. Attachment wrecks duty.

Arjuna & his chariot has many symbolic messages. The horses depict the senses that start going anywhere if not controlled. Arjun is the mind or the Jiva and Krishna is the Intellect / In-charge.

Note how the mind gets carried away by emotions & intellect needs to guide them back. So depends who has the reigns!  The flag has Hanuman denoting devotion of the highest order. Colour of his clothes & horses is white denoting purity.

The 2 armies one almost double of the other in quantity, but quality of intention is what matters.

At Kaurav camp:
Bhishma is there because of his oath (promises sure have an impact!)
Drona as he has eaten food given by Kauravs (we are what we eat!)
Karna feels he owes it to his friend
and so on

At Pandava camp
Being led by God , on the path of righteousness. Not for self but to establish righteousness in the society. ( If a queen like Draupadi can be humiliated so much, what would the destiny of women in such a society be!)

Then there is mention of the Conches names , their significance & history.

At the end of chap 1, the wise & capable Arjun was deluded, confused & sorrowful. Remember Gita as in Krishna advise has not yet started.