Why You Are NOT The Body - Part 1

You have always believed yourself to be the body. That is one of the primary reasons for your suffering. You have falsely assumed the identity of being the body. Yet, when you carefully analyze this question of whether you really are the body, you will be amazed by the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. There are two ways of being convinced about the answer to any question. One way is when someone shows you the answer and the other way is for you to discover the answer your self. In the case of established falsehood, the second method is the only way to expose the falsehood. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for you to discover yourself that you are NOT the body.  No amount of convincing by anyone else will make you realize the false identity you have accepted i.e. "I am the body".

While there are infinite pointers to why you are not the body, we will discuss a few of them and hopefully that will trigger the process of discovery for the one who is reading this essay. Let us begin by assuming you are the body, since you have been fully ingrained into believing this so far.

If indeed you are the body,  what material part of the body are you? Meaning, are you the water which compromises approximately 70% of the body, or are you the various minerals including carbon, iron, calcium, magnesium etc.? Or are you the oxygen or air that fill up the lungs and is carried by the blood? Or are you the space that is in between the cells and fills up the crevices of the interior of the body? Can you find yourself anywhere in particular in this material structure called the body? If so, where and which specific material can you call your self to be?  Confused? Good! That is why it is necessary to start the process of discovery and hunt down this entity called "me" or "I" in this body that you want to identify with. You must find your self. 

You start objecting after you listen to the above, and that is understandable. So, let us look at it from another angle. So, who is reading this article right now? Your answer would be " I am reading, naturally".  All right, since you have already confirmed that you are the body, can you please answer which material part of the body is the one which is reading? Is it the carbon, water, oxygen, space or is it the iron, magnesium, potassium or zinc? Oh, the whole body is reading it? Is it the eyes that are reading it and if so, could the eyes placed in a bowl of formalin actually read? Obviously, the hands and feet or the trunk cannot be reading. Can't be the whole body in that case. Let us perhaps narrow it down a little more. Perhaps it is the brain. Really? The brain is also composed of the same material as the rest of the body with the exception that there is more water in the brain. Once again could it be the water or the carbon doing the reading?  Can inanimate materials really see and read, comprehend, speak, hear or perceive? If not, then please answer who or what is it that does the act of perception, hearing, speaking or seeing. You get the drift of where this is going. If you really want to discover your self, you MUST answer and convince yourself regarding the questions and answers.

Not convinced yet? OK, then let us argue from a different angle. Remember, every one has his own way of doing things. You own this computer on which you are reading this message. If anyone asks you, whose computer is it? You answer, "my computer". There is you - the owner or one who is possessing the computer. And, there is the computer - the object that is possessed. In the same manner, if someone asks you, "whose body is it?". You answer, "my body". Again, the same conclusion. There is you - the owner of the body or one who possesses the body. And, there is the body -the object possessed.  The owner cannot be the one that is owned.  So, you have to figure out -"who is the owner"?

Anyway, one can go on and on about why you are NOT the body. It is pointless going on putting it all down on paper. Unless one can be convinced after self-questioning or self inquiry, one can go around in circles and make this whole discussion into an endless conversation piece. One must ask one's own self and figure it out. Go figure!

Anchor the Mind to Its Source

The mind is both the source of joy and sorrow. Since the seeker associates himself or herself to be an entity with a mind, the entity goes up and down with the mind. Hence, the feeling of being happy or sad. This problem of ups and downs is the reason most seek out an answer.  Everyone wants to be only happy and who would not? There are two ways to go about figuring out how to get out of this mess.  The best way is to disregard the mind and investigate the entity ("me"). The other way is to investigate the mind itself and realize its nature, its functioning and source.

A lot of spiritual practices will encourage one to control the mind.  Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts.  It is not an objective entity. One who has tried to control the mind will be able to testify how difficult this can be.  Instead, would it not be a lot easier if the seeking entity (called "me") SEES the falseness of itself and disengages from the activities of the mind?  If one can come around to doing Self-Inquiry (vichara), there is no better solution than that. However, this article is for those of us for whom Self-Inquiry is not feasible or easily understood. Perhaps for some, purifying the mind may be the first step towards greater and eventual goals like knowing one's own True Nature.

It is peace of mind which the seeker wants and is that not what most of us want?  How can one get peace of mind?  Common experience tells you that the more you try to control it the more it rebels.  Meditation is certainly a temporary solution. If peace of mind, even temporary, is what you want, then meditation is not a bad answer. But what kind of meditation?

When one keeps oneself engaged in thoughts, the thoughts multiply. One gets lost in more and more thoughts.  The thoughts lead one away from one's own self.  However, if the mind can be turned around and gently focused on the source from where the thoughts arise, then the thoughts gradually lose their energy and subside into their source.  Do not try to stop the thoughts. Just watch where they come from and be the silent witness of the thoughts.  Do not get carried away into the thoughts.  Always bring your attention back to the source of the thoughts. Anchoring the mind to its source brings about peace almost immediately. One falls into the state of thoughtlessness, which is your Natural State.  Repeated practice of this simple meditation of bringing one's attention to the source of the thoughts will take one deeper into further insights of one's own True Nature.