The Body - Instrument to Experience
You can use this mind either to create well being or misery for yourself. Everyone has this choice.
~ Sadhguru
We address three questions in this article:
What is the body?
What is the body’s role, in relation to the human experience?
What is the most ideal relationship/attitude to have towards the body?
It is encouraged that you read our previously published article “Noble Mind”, if you do not already possess a general understanding of the relationship between the human mind and body.
“The mind is energy. It is energy that influences the activity of the brain which influences the activity of the body” - {Noble Mind}
The series of events begins with the mind.
Control the mind. Control the body.
Also for a moment let us unpack what we mean when we say “instrument to experience”.
Instrument - a tool or implement, especially one for precision work. Oxford Languages
Experience - observation of facts or events. Oxford Languages
A tool for precise observation of events.
Our journey from birth to death is the observation of, and response to, a sequence of events.
Body and mind are mechanisms through which we observe and respond to events.
The body is an instrument through which we act out our part.
{If you want to experience a pleasant tune you must tune your instrument to the desired pitch}
What is the body?
The human body consists of 11 organ systems: digestive, muscular, integumentary(skin), lymphatic, endocrine, nervous, skeletal, reproductive, respiratory, urinary, and circulatory. There are approximately 37.2 trillion cells alongside 39 trillion cells of bacterial and fungi kind. An adequately functioning kidney processes 200 quarts (50 gallons) of blood filtering about two quarts of waste and water. The average heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood per day.
Enough to show why the body is regarded as the most complex and intelligent machine on earth.
The body maintains an ecosystem of trillions of cells without needing any conscious effort from you.
Breathing – the function your life fundamentally relies upon – occurs automatically for you.
Your life begins with an initial inhale and ends with a final exhale.
Become conscious of the action your life depends upon.
Most if not all functions of the body are happening unconsciously in the experience of most people.
We are very fortunate creatures allowed to live such an effortless existence.
We are taken care of by a machine that runs without needing any sincere care.
We are taken care of by a machine that accepts a wide range of behavior towards it.
{Those who realize the true magnitude of the body, and what it houses, know true gratitude}
The body is a machine that performs functions which allow for the experience of life.
What is the body’s role in relation to the human experience?
(Activity)
Think.
What does the body require of you?
What does it allow you to do/experience?
How much of your life do those experiences affect?
Reflect.
(We established that the body is an instrument that allows you to experience life. We have asked – what does your life require of you.)
Functions of the body require minimal effort from you.
You are tasked to keep it warm, provide it with fuel in the form of food and water.
Movement isn’t even necessary given the body can exist in a static state provided the necessary nutrients.
We established that to experience is to observe – our bodies allow us to observe the experience of emotions, thoughts, and sensations.
We established that life is a series of events – the experience of emotions, thoughts, and sensations contribute to our experience of these events.
The body’s role in relation to the human experience is – through its functioning – that it allows for experience to take place.
Through the choices we make – in regards to how to handle our body – we are able to influence the quality of our experience.
What is the most ideal relationship/attitude to have towards the body?
We think the body should be treated graciously given the service it provides us.
Ailments may arise in the body, but the body is still always engaged in supporting life until it can no longer.
So how can a person treat the body, which is perpetually enslaved to them, graciously?
The only useful offering is to provide the most ideal, effortless, atmosphere for the body to do its work.
We ascribe to a perspective which finds it most ideal – to live in a manner that allows for functions of the body to be performed most effortlessly. With the larger understanding that if the body is kept in an ideal condition – our experience of life will be greatly enhanced.
In later articles we will discuss ways of living and the reasoning/science of how they allow for the body to be kept in the best condition possible.
This piece was published in order to share a perspective of the body. A perspective that if understood, accepted, and applied to one's life – will cause one to shape a beautiful experience of life.
We look to undermine a widespread attitude in which people treat their bodies casually.
We observe that most human beings treat their body casually because they have no understanding of the body itself and its true relationship to the “life” they live.