The surface meaning of this statement is straightforward: the physical body perishes, but the true essence of a person, their Self, is everlasting. Ramana Maharshi, a prominent figure in Advaita Vedanta, points to a reality far beyond the transient nature of material existence. In this Hindu tradition, the Self (Atman) is not merely a personal consciousness but is identical with Brahman, the ultimate, unchanging reality. The perception of death arises from identifying with the body and mind, which are subject to change and dissolution. This identification creates a false sense of individuality and mortality. However, through practices like Self-enquiry, as advocated by Maharshi, one can pierce this illusion. By asking 'Who am I?' and tracing the 'I'-thought back to its source, one realizes the unconditioned, eternal nature of the Self, which is beyond birth and death, beyond all duality. This realization is not an intellectual assent but a direct, experiential understanding of one's true identity.

In your life: When faced with loss or the fear of mortality, turn your attention inward to the source of your being, recognizing that your fundamental existence is not bound by the physical form.