In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states, “Body is a material machine... This body passes through different phases, namely birth, youth, old age and death.”

As it grows old, human body becomes sick. A wise person is supposed to be aware of bodily pains, namely birth, death, old age and diseases. One can alleviate them by controlled living, but cannot entirely eliminate them. Also, this material body cannot be made permanent by any means. Unless such a realisation comes, living shall be a painful experience, particularly in the old age.

It is an undeniable fact that we are souls with material bodies. So one shouldn’t become too much body-conscious. It is not that one should stop paying attention to one’s body, but becoming too sensitive is counterproductive. Death is inevitable, but don’t die everyday!

There are other issues in being too much attached to body. If one’s pleasures are limited to the physical needs, then old age shall be a real drag. How would then one pass the old age? Attached to one’s material body, he or she would just qualify for another material body!

So what should one do? Lord Krishna says one should constantly remind oneself that he or she is a soul. Since body is a vehicle given to us for gaining liberation, one must use it to link up with God in the right earnest. Attachment to the body and bodily pleasures need to be replaced by love for God. Also, advantage of being connected to God is that He is fully aware of what is going on with us and controls it to our advantage.