QA on racism Q 9 Is racial injustice caused by past karma?

Answer Podcast

Video:

Q9: Is racial injustice caused by past karma?
Follow-up question:
Prabhuji, I have one more question.

Answer:
Sure, please go ahead.

Question:
How do we maintain a balanced perspective? On one hand, we know — intellectually at least — that we are not the body, we are the spirit soul. But on the other hand, we are constantly going through experiences that affect the body — like seeing social injustices, such as what happened to George Floyd, or facing difficult, distressing situations ourselves. How do we reconcile the two perspectives?

Answer:
That’s a very thoughtful question. You’re essentially asking: How do we balance the spiritual understanding that we are not the body with the reality that we live and experience the world through the body?

This is a key challenge in spiritual life. Krishna addresses this in the Bhagavad-gita when he advises a regulated lifestyle — in eating, sleeping, working, and recreation. Why? Because the body is like a machine. For a machine to function well, it must be taken care of. If neglected, it malfunctions or even breaks down. So, acknowledging and addressing the body’s needs is not the same as bodily consciousness.

Let me clarify:

• Being aware of what is happening to the body is not necessarily bodily consciousness.
• Being obsessed with the body and identifying only with it — that is bodily consciousness.

For instance, when we eat, we taste the food. Some food tastes good, some doesn’t. Enjoying tasty food is not wrong in itself. If we start indulging in food that’s harmful or involves violence — just for taste — then it becomes a problem. But eating food that’s healthy, Krishna-prasadam, and also tastes good? That’s completely aligned with spiritual life.

So, the goal is not to suppress all bodily stimuli or pleasures. It’s to not become over-identified with them. Spiritual practice doesn’t mean neglecting the body; it means using the body in Krishna’s service.

If we face physical or emotional pain, we should address it appropriately. We may need doctors, therapists, mentors, friends, or spiritual counselors. That’s part of being responsible with the body and mind we’ve been given. For example, someone with chronic back pain may need to adjust their lifestyle, take treatments, or avoid certain kinds of physical work. That isn’t bodily consciousness — that’s common sense and self-care, which enables continued service.

The key principle is this:
We acknowledge the body, care for it as a tool for service, but don’t identify with it as the self.

The body is not just a valuable tool — it’s, for this life, an indispensable tool for serving Krishna. So, taking care of it is a part of our duty, not a contradiction to our spiritual identity. We strive to keep our consciousness anchored in the soul while responsibly managing the experiences that come through the body.