The
Times of India, Mumbai Edition (Page 2) Thursday, February 13, 2003 **
|
The
importance of the human body
By Bhagwan
Sri Satya Sai Baba
|
Wealth, friends, property, and even
wife, if lost, can be acquired again, but the human body is not like that;
once it goes, it can never be got back, no matter now hard
one may try.
Human life is most precious, highly sacred, beautiful and invaluable. It
is, therefore, the prime duty of every individual to take the greatest
possible care of the body. The body is an indispensable vehicle for
experiences. Without it nothing can be done, not even a simple task. The human
body is, therefore, more precious than worldly wealth and such other material
acquisitions. Life must be sanctified by making proper use of the body and
engaging it in sacred actions. Time gone will never come back. Once the Ganges
merges in the ocean, you cannot get back even a drop of its sacred water.
Likewise, once life ebbs out and the body is gone, it cannot be recovered.
The human body is also a clock marking
time and the passage of life. It ticks away the seconds, minutes, days, weeks,
months, and years. Man knows that life is ticking away and yet he does not
bother to enquire about the real purpose of life. No one can say when the
clock will stop. It is, therefore, most essential to make proper use of life
while it is still available. The body is the vehicle for the journey of life.
If the vehicle is not properly maintained, then one must be prepared to face
serious problems on the way.
The body has been gifted in order to
serve others. You must firmly resolve not only to take care of yourself but
also others. Unfortunately, man today does not know what service means. The
essence of all the eighteen Puranas can be summarised in two short sentences:
Help Ever. Hurt Never.
Though God has given the body for
service, man does not seem to understand what help means, being ever immersed
in selfishness. Every thought, every word and every action is driven by
selfishness.
Man has become a puppet in the hands of
selfishness and self-interest. How can a puppet ever be called independent?
Selfishness must, therefore, be totally rejected and selflessness
wholeheartedly embraced. Then alone would the real purpose of the human body
and human life be realised.
You must make an effort to realise that
the body is just an instrument given to you for a specific purpose, and must
further understand that purpose. The body must be used only for performing
good deeds. You must lead a virtuous life.
In the end, you must give up the body
with good thoughts. Do not assume that the body has been given for enjoyment,
comfort seeking, beautification, and useless pursuits of that nature.
Indulgence in pleasure seeking, comfort
and luxury can be dangerous. God has not given this body for indulgence.
Safeguard your body by all means and take full care of your health, but use
your body solely to perform good actions.
Also reported by The Times of
India - Hyderabad:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=37304713&sType=1
