[Chaturamnaya] Jagadguru Speaks: Body Is Impermanent; Seek Liberation

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
Man must never lose track of the goal of life, even as he goes about 
doing his daily activities. Only moksha should be the prime goal of 
life. It may be beneficial to pursue learning and progress in life, but 
one must also be ever conscious of the changing nature of objects in 
the whirligig of time. 
 
What exists today will perish one day. This body and all the actions 
associated with it will not last forever. Given the fleeting nature of 
this world, circumstances too will constantly change. The Lord alone 
is eternal and realising our oneness with the Lord is moksha. The Lord 
pervaded all even before the start of creation and will continue to 
pervade for all time to come. Man must never forget this. 
 
We must never hurt another by criticism or harsh words and deeds. 
If we nurture this positive attitude, we will develop the tendency to 
forgive and accept even those who betray us. 
 
Again, it is apparent that no embodied being will last forever. When 
a body, which has been falsely identified with the notion of ‘I’ and 
‘mine,’ resorts to selfishness, arrogance and betrayal, it will perish 
ignominiously in the wheel of time. Be it an emperor or a person in 
penury, one's lifespan is numbered. Approaching life with such an 
attitude and a changed outlook, one can tide away suffering and live 
in peace. 
 
पुरा रथैर्हेमपरिष्कृतैश्चरन्‌ मतङ्गजैर्वा नरदेहसंज्ञितः ।
स एव कालेन दुरत्ययेन ते कलेवरो विट्कृमिभस्मसंज्ञितः ||
 
This verse describes the impermanence of the body. The body of a 
king may have been carried in golden chariots pulled by elephants. 
However, even that body is subject to the inevitable grip of time and 
perishes in varied ways. Devoured by fox and the like, the decayed body 
is rendered useless and transformed into micro-organisms. Or, the body 
is transformed into ashes when burnt. If we understand this evanescent 
nature of life, we will be able to live in harmony with all beings.