Understanding the Soul and Steadfast Minds in the Bhagavad Gita

The questions you posed relate to the concepts of the soul's nature and consciousness at the time of death as discussed in the Bhagavad Gita. Here’s a summary based on the relevant verses:

1. How are we here in this body, and who is it?

   The Bhagavad Gita explains that the body is perishable and constituted of material elements, while the soul (Atman) is eternal, indestructible, and distinct from the body. In Chapter 2, Verse 18, it states:

   “Only the material body is perishable; the embodied soul within is indestructible, immeasurable, and eternal.”

   This indicates that our true self is the soul within the body, governing our experiences and actions.

2. How do those of steadfast mind know you at their time of death?

   According to Chapter 8, Verse 5, Shree Krishna states:

   “Those who relinquish the body while remembering Me at the moment of death will come to Me. There is certainly no doubt about this.”

   Those who have cultivated a steadfast mind and a continuous remembrance of God throughout their lives will have the clarity and consciousness to remember Him even at the time of death. Furthermore, Chapter 8, Verse 6 elaborates,

   “Whatever one remembers upon giving up the body at the time of death, one attains that state, being always absorbed in such contemplation.”

   This emphasizes the importance of one's thoughts and consciousness formed during life, which manifest at the time of death.

Thus, cultivating a steady mind devoted to God throughout one's life aids in recognizing Him at the time of death, leading to liberation from the material cycle of existence.