Spirituality Of The Physical
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Many people today understand the oneness of physical and spiritual, or the connection of body and mind. Still there is some tendency to regard the flesh and the material world as lowly or unworthy.
I propose that all things in our physical plane of vibration, while perhaps moving more slowly and appearing more dense, are just as much a part of the light as our thoughts and the energy that animates our consciousness. Let us remember that our interior reflects the exterior and vice versa.
Our thoughts reflect our bodies and our bodies reflect our internal workings.
How we feel about self manifests in the way our body looks and feels. How we feel about the world around us is made evident by how we treat the planet and natural things.
The first virtue of Lao Tsu is Reverence for all of life. Many of us even believe this extends to inanimate objects, since all the cosmos is living and intelligent in some way.
Traditional religions teach us to be ashamed of bodily urges and functions. And for this reason many spiritual people don’t comprehend the magnificent nature of the physical reflection.
Much of religion is about control and diminishing the light in those who follow. This is definitely the case with any teachings that promote shame of body and disregard for the physical, from killing non-believers to callous treatment of animals (as in sacrifice).
I believe true spirit is a connectedness and loving of all things, both hard and soft. Without our bodies we could not enjoy our five senses, and without the wonders of this physical plane we would miss out on such things as the smell of rain, the brilliance of a sunset, and the the fabulous pain that comes from a good workout.
Our bodies are spiritual gifts, and in some ways they represent all of the physical plane. At the very least they symbolize our connection to this world of matter, or slowly moving energetic waves.
To denounce the physical and relegate it as less than spiritually magnificent is to miss out on a great part of the journey. We should be grateful for our bodies, our senses, and this 3-dimensional world we get to play in.
At the same time of course we need always remain unattached to some degree, i.e. we should remain in this world but never fully of it. Even so, our respect for our bodies and the earth allow new levels of personal growth and bliss.
The question arises: If indeed this world is an illusion just how real can our experience of the physical be?
And the answer is, as real as we allow.
It is possible to eat whatever one wants and not gain weight or have health problems. But this requires a strong measure of belief/intent. Personally I have deeply ingrained mental programs that make it difficult to escape a reality where I must exercise some care with my diet and exercise often to avoid becoming overweight.
I know full well this is simply the playing out of my beliefs into the physical realm. Even so, I watch the experience unfold in accordance with these beliefs. So for me especially reverence for the body is important.
I also know that when I have grown emotionally and spiritually to the appropriate point I’ll be able to eat anything I choose and always maintain my preferred body fat and muscle tone. In another dimension of the multiverse I am already doing exactly this.
While we’re on the subject of reverence for the body, how does vegetarianism factor into all this? Again I believe choice of the individual is key.
I’ve eaten meat all my life until recently. It suddenly occurs to me, as someone who deeply loves and works actively to care for animals of all kinds, perhaps eating the flesh of another creature is wrong for me.
I am weaning myself from the meat. Again because of my beliefs I sometimes have cravings, experience weakness, or just revert to mental programs.
It has been said that even if I stop eating animals they won’t stop eating one-another. A valid point, still I go where my heart leads.
I’ve rambled a bit with all this. It’s 7:30 in the morning and I haven’t slept yet because I’m monitoring a situation with some wild kittens on my property; still I hope I made a few useful points that will serve the reader.
I’ll add a part two and create a more coherent set of points. Thanks for reading as always and be sure to grab your free Meditation Guide using the form in the right margin if you haven’t already done so.
Tags: health and spirituality, mind and body, Mind Body Soul, physical spirituality, Spirituality
Baker Says:
June 24th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Interesting post. I will try to eat more healthier, because of this post. I have the other aspects down such as meditation, present moment awareness, conscious living, now I have to eat better foods.
Baker
marine#70 Says:
June 28th, 2009 at 8:35 am
well – it has all changed – thanks for the new info – I am one with the earth and all folks – eat right – sleep better – exercdise better ( more inteligently )== be in the moment – here and now always – right here – right now is all we have – thanks for the knowledge- thanks again – I appreciate it all – life is here and now – focus on the momewnt – only = bye for now