Our present existence is bi-dimensional: we are spiritual beings residing in material bodies. Harmonizing the material and the spiritual dimensions of our existence is a perennial challenge. If we wish to make spiritual advancement, our aspirations have to be primarily in the spiritual realm: developing selfless, spiritual love for Krishna and all his children. However, when we wish to express our love through practical service in this world, our actions have to be primarily in the material realm: taking care of our worldly responsibilities and doing whatever we can to help others connect with Krishna.
How do we balance acting principally in the material realm with aspiring principally in the spiritual realm? The Bhagavad-gita (2.16) offers a precious insight: the material never endures, the spiritual never ceases. Once we become rooted in this insight, worldly change may change our actions materially, but not our aspirations spiritually. Thus, we value change, knowing that it affects our actions, butdon’t overvalue change so much that it changes our values and aspirations. After all, even the most momentous material change can’t change the twin realities that:
1. All pleasures and troubles from material changes are passing
2. Only the shelter and satisfaction from spiritual devotion is lasting.
When we internalize these facts by studying and applying Gita wisdom, then we will become expert in the art of valuing change without changing values.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02, Text 16
“Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.”
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