Generally, we are under the impression that the soul (you) owns body and a supreme power whom we call God owns you (the soul). But, this is NOT true.
First, let’s see what should hold true when we say we own something.
- Vyapanamu (to enable its existence)
- Dharanamu (to enable its sustenance)
- Niyamanamu (complete control)
Now, if we think we own our body, then we should be able to bring it into existence, be able to sustain it and have complete control over it. But, we don’t.
We have limited, and controlled freedom just like hands on a clock. We just throw away a clock if the hands move in anti-clockwise. They can only move in one direction and only until the life of the battery. Similarly, we enjoy a framed freedom in this body, but we do not own our body. The body and the self are both under the control of the supreme power.
What is this body made of? It is called prakruthi. Let us see some aspects of the body as described in Vedam
Rajasika Ahankaram doesn’t yield anything, but it joins the Satvika ahankaram and Tamasika ahankaram to result in bodies such as ours.
The shape of this keeps changing, but it is ‘nityam’, exists forever. Our body disintegrates after we die into basic elements and goes back to making other bodies.
It has three main aspects, Sukla (Water), Erupu (Agni), and Krushna (Earth). These three gunas are represented by the three colours white, red and black. These three colours result in innumerable combinations based on the percentages of mix.
All that we see emerges comes out of this ‘mula sthanam’, the root place for all that changes in shape.
This does not have a ‘gnanam’ element to it
It is under control of the supreme power like us.
We are however made of ‘gnanam’. Our composition is ‘Joy’ and ‘Knowledge’. How cool is it to know that we are actually not the thing that changes. It is the body/prakruthi that changes. We have the form that is conscious and aware of all of this. We have the ability to understand all this. However, we do not have the ability to control this. All that is taken care by the supreme soul, our master, the most compassionate and the most knowledgeable, the omnipotent and the omnipresent, Mr. God – Our Sriyahpathi, Srimannarayana !
-From the discourses of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
