The Material Self Is Expendable

अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ता: शरीरिण: |

अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत || 2.18||

Meaning of the Shloka: The physical body is perishable. However, the Absolute Self pervading it is indestructible, boundless, and endless. Hence, you must get ready to fight. (Bhagvad Gita 2.18)

Context: Krishna is explaining that the fear of loss of something as perishable as the physical body should not be a deterrent in your righteous path.

What is the Material Self

The Material Self is the “I” whose boundaries are defined by the five senses and five action organs. The five senses are sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. The five action organs are the arms, legs, genitalia, excretory organs, and voice. Collectively, they are called the Dashendriya (the ten physical faculties of knowledge).

The “I” or “me” defined by the Dashendriya constitutes the Material Self, Sthula Sharira (gross body), or simply the human body.

The purpose of the Material Self

Everything in the multiverse serves the truth. The truth here stems from the nature of the constituents of the thing in question. For instance, a wooden table behaves like its constituents, that is, serves its truth.

Same is true for plants, animals, and other celestial objects.

Human beings are no different. We follow the truth which is dictated by the things that constitute us, it includes the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the thoughts we nurture. 

Unfortunately, the arrogance, a byproduct of the human mind, masks the truth. This makes us emotional and we veer off on the wrong path. We start prioritizing actions that stem from greed, lust, resentment, and other negative emotions.

Anyway, when we align ourselves with the truth, the emotions subside and the actions stem from dutifulness and sacrifice. We embark on the path to greatness, doing whatever it takes along the way, even if it means letting go of things we hold so dear to our hearts.

That’s the purpose of the Material Self.

The emotions that lead us astray and the human body itself are temporary, hence perishable and expendable. The only way we can make this life worth living and assign any kind of meaning to this suffering is by embodying the truth, knowledge, and God.

Conclusion: Devote yourself to the truth

Do the right thing. Do the honorable thing. 

There are plenty of reasons to skip working out, close the book, and kill your dreams in exchange for cheap dopamine hits, whether it is from social media or your ego.

However, there is only one reason to keep going — immortality.

Embody the truth.

Live forever.

—

Next Chapter: Go to War

Previous Chapter: The Absolute Self Is Indestructible

Index (with Prologue): Krishna Said That: Prologue

The human body is fleeting