gospel of Thomas 87

Jesus said, "Wretched is the body that is dependent upon a body, and wretched is the soul that is dependent on these two."

We lead very materialistic lives. And this is much more true today than it was in the times of Jesus. But even back then, it seems that people had a materialistic focus or perspective on life.

Perhaps one of the disciples had been grateful that Jesus was there in the body. Whatever prompted this remark from Jesus, though, he is giving us a clear indication that whilst we have a focus on the physical, on the material, we are going to suffer.

Wretched is the body that is dependent upon a body. All this focus on bodies – why are we going to be wretched? Of course, bodies sooner or later, get sick. They suffer from disease or accident. They grow old and rather infirm. And then the body dies. All of this means, in the long run, bodies are rather unsatisfactory.

And if we identify ourself totally with the body – that's who we feel ourself to be – not only will we suffer the physical pain of injury, illness and old age, but we will be suffering psychologically too. It is this identification with the body that Jesus is warning against here.

And it's not necessary to identify with the body. Thousands of years ago, the Hindu traditions of yoga had clearly recognised this: that we are not the body. In fact, they went one step further: we are not the thinking mind either. Looking into oneself and realising these things, for oneself, the identifications drop away. And then – even though we still wish the body to be healthy, we can still look after it as best we can – when illness comes, we are psychologically in a much better position. For we do not feel ourself to be on the line.

And if we have come to the point where we have realised the essential part of who we are – our spirit, that which is untouched by the physical world – then the ailments and the trials of the physical body cannot touch us psychologically at all. For we no longer are bound by identification with the physical body. We have gone beyond such materialism.