The Human Constitution
Who and What We Are?
Our true essence is that of the self and the self is entrapped in a material body.
The scriptures tell us all we need to know as to who and what we are. For example, when it was said in Genesis 2 verse 7 that God formed Adam from the dust of the ground, this is not meant to be taken literally.
The dust of the ground represents the earth, an earthly body. What has been created at this point is an earthly body. It was not until God placed in to Adam a self that Adam became a human being.
There is a material body and there is a spiritual body (self). The self is implanted in to a material body. The self is raised up to heaven upon death of the material body.
1 Corinthians, verses 42-44
Only the material body is subject to destruction.
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 2 verse 18
Each and every body contains a self
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 2 verse 17
Without the presence of the self there is no movement of the material body.
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 3 verse 5
When the self is present in the body there is consciousness all over the body and as soon as the self is raised up to heaven upon death of the material body there is no more consciousness in the material body.
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 13 verse 34
In God was life and this life (self) is the light of all men.
John 1 verse 4
The self that dwells within is the source of light in all living beings.
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 13 verse 18
The self that is within the material body shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. The darkness refers to mans state of mind being unaware that in each of us there is a self. This state of mind is said to be a state of ignorance.
In Budhism and Hinduism this state is called Avidya (Spiritual ignorance; unaware of our true nature (self). The result of such ignorance is suffering).
John 1 verse 5
When the darkness of ignorance is removed by experiencing Gnosis, the supreme lord (self) takes charge and the Gnostic becomes free from suffering.
The opposite state of ignorance is that of enlightenment. Enlightenment is the experience of Gnosis. In Buddhism this state is called Tathagatagarbha (The state of wakefulness by experiencing Gnosis which is the experience of ultimate reality).
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 10 verse 11
You should know that you are the temple of God and that the spirit of God (self) dwelleth in you.
1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 16
Jesus said he could destroy this temple and raise it up in 3 days. The Jews then said this temple took 46 years to build. Who is he to say he can raise it up in 3 days? But Jesus spoke that the true temple is the material body.
What Jesus was saying is that in 3 days he can teach a person that what a person is looking for in life is not to be found in the outside world but rather from within (Gnosis).