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This gross body is most offensive as it is composed of skin , flesh , blood vessels. fat, marrow and bones and also it is ever filled with urine and faecal matter. (87)
In order to create the necessary sense of detachment from and in order to wean the mind from all its infatuation with the body, Sankara brings the seeker's scientific attention to focus completely on the composition of his own physical body.
Infatuation can arise only through hasty, immature observations but when the nature of the thing becomes fully evident through close scientific study, this infatuation must lift and right understanding dawn. For this purpose, the human physical body is fully dissected in its biological composition in this verse.
The body is made up of unholy things which by themselves cannot endanger any fascination in a thoughtful man. Sometimes, it happens that the container may be ugly, yet the contents can enrich it. Even this is not the case for our physical body, a filthy container containing nothing but gallons of filth.
It is this filth packet that man hugs to himself, panting to experience peace and happiness through it. When we realise the folly of loving a thing which is so abominable, our endless attachment and attraction for it will cease.
The body is so attractive and fine because it is nicely covered by a wonderful skin. If you want to know what this body is all-about, remove the skin and see within.
Now it is so fine because, nicely closed by the skin; if you remove what it will be. Then you may worry; that I have to remove my skin; or what?
You need not physically remove; even you mentally remove what all the things within; it is nothing but a bundle of all these things.
Suppose after reading the slōka, a person develops dvēṣa; then one needs to look at a different description of the body in vedanta; if dvēṣam starts coming, then we should remind ourselves, body is a temple, annamaya kōśa is an external prakāra; manōmaya etc. or sūkṣma śarīra is an internal prakāra; hridyam is the garba griham;
Hiranmaye pare kose virajam brahma niskalam; taj subram jyotisam jyotih; satyatma vido vidhuḥ
Atma caitanyaṁ is installed in the physical body; therefore body is a temple; therefore never hate the body; therefore never neglect the body; take care of the body.
We are now left with contradictory ideas. So, what do we do?? Should we develop hatred towards body or should be we get attached ?
Just use it as a means; but ready to lose it at any time. Use it as a means; discover Brahman and then drop it; drop your attachment to that; this is the idea.
All these slokas must be very carefully understood. Nothing should be hated in life; and nothing you should be attached. This is the essence of the sastra; nothing is raga-worthy; nothing is dvesa- worthy.
Look upon the world as the world, use it as long as it is available; and when it is going to go away; then also, do not be worried about that; what has come, will have to go. Body comes; body goes; wife comes; wife will go; husband comes; husband will go.
This Asangah is the idea conveyed here, with regard to the body also.
Love
