Chapter 2 Verse 22

Just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so too the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.

Core Meaning

This verse uses the everyday image of changing clothes to show a deeper truth: the living Self is not the same as the body. Just as you discard old garments and wear new ones, the Self leaves old bodies and takes on new ones. The body is an outer covering; the soul or Self is the inner, continuous being.

Because the Self survives bodily change, birth and death are not the final story. Loss, aging, and death affect the body, not the unchanging inner witness. Realizing this reduces fear of death and helps you see life events with more balance.

Spiritually, the teaching asks you to loosen tight identification with the body. This does not mean neglecting health or duties, but acting without clinging—knowing that who you truly are remains unchanged through all changes.

Life Application

• When you face loss or fear, pause and remind yourself you are more than this body; breathe, observe, and respond calmly.
• Do simple daily practices (short meditation, self-reflection) that help you notice the inner witness instead of reacting only from body-based worries.
• Care for your body responsibly, but make decisions from a wider sense of self—this reduces anxiety about outcomes and attachments.

Reflection Question

If you truly saw yourself as the unchanging Self, what would you stop clinging to today?