Aham Brahmasmi – I am not this body. It’s such a simple truth. Understanding this fully is not so simple.

Eternal truths don’t change. Truth is truth. Facts are facts. We humans, on the other hand, tend to relativize almost everything!  

The dynamics of creation are exquisite in their synergy of purpose. Finding the path to freedom and salvation and remaining on that path may sound simple, but we know differently from firsthand experience. 

So, how is it that such a sublimely simple statement like “I am not this body” is so difficult to realize fully? 

For the Bhakta (devotee of the Lord in any bonafide faith path), realizing we are not this body is a foundational step on the journey towards love of God. Knowing some of the challenges may be helpful. One way to think of all transcendental knowledge is like signposts in a large national park. There are all kinds of sights and paths to get to each, some easy to traverse and some much more challenging! The goal is lofty for each soul on the path of self-discovery. The few challenges we are sharing here are just to get each of us started with our own list of possible impediments:

MATERIAL PULLINGS: Our subtle material bodies, namely mind, intelligence, and false ego, primarily guide the actions of our material body (besides basic bodily functions). As the famous painting in the Bhagavad-gita teaches, the five horses pulling the chariot represent the five senses. The reins are the mind. The driver is the intelligence. The chariot is the body. And the passenger is the soul.

ASSOCIATION: Our interactions with most people in the world are on a more external, physical, mental, and emotional level. And common knowledge dictates that the effect of who and what we associate with makes a profound difference in our consciousness. In our own teachings, Srila Prabhupada said “One can understand about God only in association of devotees.” Even social media influencer Nathanial Bibby says, “One of the most important decisions you will ever make is who you decide to spend time with. If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck. If you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly.” Further than that, we are deeply influenced by what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch as well.

HUMILITY: The importance of humility echoes incessantly in unlimited teachings around the world. One especially wonderful expression of humility comes from Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the third stanza of the eight-verse Siksastakam he left behind to inspire future generations. The translation from Bengali to English reads, “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”

Of course, there are many more challenges in the material world than just these three. They are listed as a simple starting point, but each of us is an individual. Therefore, our reflections are also exclusively unique to us. On Google, AI summarizes that in general spiritual circles, “Spiritual contemplation refers to the practice of intentionally focusing the mind and heart on deeper spiritual truths, often involving quiet reflection, meditation, or prayer, to connect with a higher power or inner wisdom, allowing for a deeper understanding of oneself and the universe around them.”

Ultimately, we will all wake up from the dreamlike state created for each of us in this material realm. We all desire peace, happiness, and, ultimately, love. Until that happens, life can turn into a roller coaster without notice. How to find that peace, happiness, and love as quickly as possible? It is by the causeless mercy of the Lord. Where do we find that mercy? It is all around us. Constantly. We just need to prepare ourselves to receive that mercy by first trying to realize who we are right now.

Aham Brahmasmi – I am not this body. I am an eternal soul seeking my way back to our natural and eternal home.

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