Bodily Activities - The Machinery of the Soul
A fundamental teaching of the Bhagavad-gītā is the distinction between the self and the body. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while the soul is the source of consciousness, the "bodily activities" we observe are merely the workings of a material machine. The conditioned soul, bewildered by false ego, takes credit for these activities and thus becomes entangled in their reactions. However, by understanding the mechanics of action and engaging the body in the service of the Supreme, one can live in the world without being of it.
The Soul vs. The Body
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently uses the analogy of dreaming to illustrate the soul's aloofness. Just as a person in a dream forgets his waking body, and a waking person forgets his dream body, the soul is actually separate from both states. The activities of the body are interactions of the material modes, yet the illusioned living entity thinks, "I am doing this."
- Actually, the activities of the body are not the activities of the soul. The soul is different from the body.
- As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (Bhagavad-Gita 2.13): dehino 'smin yatha dehe. Everyone is encased within the body. Since the body is never identical with the soul, the bodily activities are simply illusory.
- As one who is awake has no connection with the activities of the body in a dream, an awakened, liberated soul has no connection with the activities of the present body.
- Whatever one is supposed to do, either for happiness or for distress, one is forced to do because of the bodily constitution. The self, however, is outside all these bodily activities.
The Mechanism of Transmigration
Bodily activities are not without consequence. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the chain reaction: the mind (subtle body) desires, the gross body acts, and the reaction creates a new subtle body. This subtle body then carries the soul to a new gross body in the next life. Thus, our present activities are the blueprint for our future embodiment.
- According to the activities of the present body, one prepares another subtle body. And according to the subtle body, one attains another gross body. This is the process of material existence.
- Activities of the gross body are reactions of the mental condition. The mind's activities are thinking, feeling and willing. The willing portion of the mind is manifest by the activities of the body.
- One does not know that so long the mind will be absorbed in this karma - karma means bodily activities - I'll have to accept another body. And there is risk. I do not know whether I shall be able to accept a human body.
- The subtle body's activities - be they pious or impious - create another situation for the living entity to enjoy or suffer in the next gross body. Thus the subtle body continues whereas the gross bodies change one after another.
Spiritualizing the Activity
How does one break this cycle? Not by stopping activity—which is impossible—but by changing its quality. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that when bodily activities are performed for Kṛṣṇa, they cease to produce material reactions. A devotee may perform the same actions as a materialist (eating, working, sleeping), but because the consciousness is fixed on Kṛṣṇa, these activities become spiritual and liberating.
- As soon as the living entity becomes aloof from the activities of the body, he becomes free from the reactions as well.
- One should recognize the difference between activities of the body and spiritual activities by which one understands that he is not the body.
- When one takes to Krsna consciousness, one at once becomes completely aloof from bodily activities. In such a controlled life, in which his deliberations are changed, he lives happily within the city of nine gates.
- If we adjust these bodily activities towards Krishna's side, then the labor is fruitful, but if we adjust towards maya's side, then the labor is useless.
Engaging in Devotional Service
The practical application of this philosophy is to actively engage the body in the service of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda lists specific activities: bowing down, cleansing the temple, and preaching. Unlike the Māyāvādīs, who consider devotional activities to be material, Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that these actions are transcendental and lead directly to the spiritual world.
- To achieve that success (associating with God in any one of the five transcendental rasas), he (a mahatma) engages all activities-mental, bodily and vocal, everything-in the service of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. That is called full Krsna Consciousness.
- There are activities of the body, activities of the different senses and activities of speech. A Krsna conscious person engages his words in preaching the glories of the Lord. This is called kirtana.
- This deity is called sri-vigraha. Aradhana: worshiping the sri-vigraha. Decorating, cleansing the temple, tan-mandira-marjanadau. So we can engage our bodily activities in that way.
- Whatever one is supposed to do, either for happiness or for distress, one is forced to do because of the bodily constitution. The self, however, is outside all these bodily activities.
Conclusion
Bodily activities are the engine of material existence, driving us from one life to another. However, under the expert guidance of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Bhagavad-gītā, we can steer this machine towards liberation. By dovetailing our actions in the service of Kṛṣṇa, we transform the very cause of our bondage into the means of our deliverance.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Bodily Activities. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.