#29 Body-Fire Meditation

Imagine one’s own body being burnt by a destructive fire, rising from the right foot to the top. Then one will attain a calm splendor.

Verse 52

This practice detaches us from our bodies. When we realize we are not our body, our ego dissolves, our separate identity disappears. Then, we become free. To live without fear is a great blessing. All sorrow comes from fear. Fear is usually the fear of loss of some kind. Loss of wealth, loss of life, loss of one’s family, loss of job, loss of face, and so on. Fear of death is a major fear for most people. You have fear when you think your existence is in danger. When you realize you are not the body, you realize that you cannot be destroyed.

Even when your physical body is destroyed, you will still survive. Death is something that happens to your body and not to you. When you know you cannot be destroyed, all fears melt away. That is when you truly love. Even when someone attacks you, you have no fear. Even when someone is about to kill you, you have no fear. For you know you cannot be destroyed. When there is no fear, there is only love, unconditional love. You love friends and enemies alike, for you know nothing of any value can be destroyed.

How to do this technique

• Verse 52 is another meditation that tries to break our identification with our bodies. It is meant to teach us a very important truth – we are not our body.
• This practice can be done seated or lying down, with eyes closed. Imagine a destructive fire rising upwards fron1 your right foot, burning your entire body.
• When this fire reaches the top, your entire body is destroyed, but not you. You are still there even though the body is gone. You are now aware or conscious, something that can exist even without a body.
• There are two very important spiritual truths being taught here. Even when our body is destroyed, we survive. And our true nature is consciousness.
• Consciousness cannot be destroyed. Its survival is guaranteed. The entire practice can be repeated a few times. Then one will attain a calm splendor.
  
  Mahatma Gandhi was one such man who lived life fearlessly. He was one of the first to protest against the apartheid regime of South Africa. He is better known for having won India its independence from the British Empire. The amazing thing about him was that all his methods of protest were non-violent. His revolution was based on non-violence. He did not hate his colonial masters or wish them any harm, no matter how repugnant their behavior became. He had unconditional love and respect for all of human life. Once when he was threatened with violence, he said, “You can beat me, you can torture me, you can even kill me. Then, all you will have is my dead body. Not my obedience.