The soul is the owner of the human body. Once we accept this fact, we are in a good position to get a hang of the whole picture about our bodies, which are vehicles given to us for use. We can understand this by an example of a car. We use cars but know ourselves to be different from them.

Having this knowledge, one makes the best possible use of one’s car, one maintains it properly and drives it as carefully.

Similarly, one maintains one’s body and uses it dispassionately. Getting attached to bodies gives rise to many serious problems, the most common being fear of death and diseases.

Anxiety about the well-being of one’s body affects adversely the immune system of our bodies. And, our bodies work the best when we don’t worry about them.

The second serious problem is that of giving too much comfort to one’s body.

The body works the best when it is efficiently used. Fruits of labour come only by exertion.

By being lazy one deprives oneself by default.

The third problem relates to the overuse of one’s body.

This is another extreme. One suffers health problems, fatigue, diminished efficiency and may even get into accidents.

One can see the signs such as sleep disorder, reduced digestion, irritability, headache, chest discomfort, etc.

Therefore, one should make oneself fully aware of the realties of the human body. It is given to us for a limited period only.

There are natural changes like getting old, slowing down of its internal systems. One should accept these changes in good grace, and make the necessary adjustments in one’s life. A wise person strikes a good balance between exertions and comforts to get the best use out of his body.

In other words, one should neither be attached to one’s body nor be inimical towards it our of ignorance. One should make the optimum use f it. And, in case of doubt, one should err on the side of being active. After all, ‘Karmaphala’ comes from ‘karma’ only.