The A of Spirituality: Realizing You’re More Than Just Your Selfie!

Hare Krishna! I get it, you’ve probably stumbled across this post amidst a sea of Gen Y and Gen Z content – TikToks, Instagram stories, or maybe one of those captivating YouTube vlogs. We’re living in an age where we’re constantly bombarded with images of the perfect body, the perfect face, the perfect life. But have you ever stopped to think: Is this all there is?

I mean, look at your last selfie. You looked fabulous, no doubt. But is that picture all you are?

Let’s delve into a profound wisdom that’s been around way before any of our social media platforms. Remember Srila Prabhupada? For those scratching their heads, he was the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). And one of his most profound teachings, deeply rooted in the Bhagavad Gita, was this simple, yet mind-boggling truth: We are not this body; we are the spirit soul.

Dehino ‘smin yatha dehe – It’s a verse from the Gita, essentially hinting that just as the body undergoes changes from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death.

Confused? Let me break it down with a modern metaphor. Consider your smartphone. It’s sleek, shiny, and fully functional. But what makes it truly operational? It’s not the outer casing, but the software inside, right? Similarly, our body, with all its allure, is merely the casing. The real magic, the software, is the spirit soul within.

It’s easy in today’s world to forget that, isn’t it? Our society, especially for the Gen Y and Z cohorts, places so much emphasis on the external. Perfect skin. Perfect hair. Perfect physique. But Srila Prabhupada, with his timeless wisdom, nudged us to question this perspective. If our body changes – from a baby to a teen to an elderly person – then who are we really? Are we just a series of changing bodies?

Picture this. Remember your favorite childhood toy? Maybe a stuffed bear or a little toy car. You loved it, but as time went on, you outgrew it. Our bodies are somewhat similar; vehicles we use for a while, but the real ‘us’, the soul, remains unchanged, unaged, and undeterred.

Now, I’m not saying disregard your body. After all, it’s the vehicle for the soul in this lifetime. But just imagine the liberation of understanding that you are more than just your external appearance. That every failure, every scar, every wrinkle doesn’t define the eternal you. It’s freeing, isn’t it?

Rhetorical question time: What if, instead of investing hours in front of the mirror or in the gym (not that there’s anything wrong with that), you took a few moments to connect with your inner self, your soul? What transformations could you achieve?

Srila Prabhupada gave us the key to this timeless knowledge, emphasizing that realizing our true spiritual identity is the A of spiritual life. Everything else – meditation, yoga, rituals – comes after. Think about it: How can one embark on a spiritual journey without first knowing who they truly are?

Let’s wrap this up with another simple metaphor. Imagine playing a video game where you don’t know your character’s abilities. Sounds challenging, right? Life can feel the same when we don’t recognize our true, spiritual self.

So, next time you’re caught up in the whirlwind of modern life’s standards, take a moment. Remember Srila Prabhupada’s words and the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. Realize that you’re more than just your physical appearance. And perhaps, just perhaps, this realization will be the first step in a more fulfilling journey of self-discovery.

After all, isn’t it time we looked beyond the mirror and into our soul?