Transformation Through Body

"Transformation is through the body, not away from it. This is why no true master has ever advocating fighting or leaving the body, although their mind-based followers often have." -Eckhart Tolle

Last week I wrote about the difference between knowledge and knowing. I shared my experience with Eckhart Tolle and how the only true way to "know" something, is to experience it.

What are you noticing...knowing?

This week I encourage you to become curious about what and how your physical body is trying to communicate with you.

I often say our physical body is a portal to what is really happening deep within. By deep within I mean beyond the mind and it's thoughts/story/narrative.

For example, ever notice how physical pain causes us to "do" something when it no longer becomes tolerable?

It's the moment when we feel "we have had enough of feeling tired/achy/lonely" (i.e.: suffering) and decide it's time to make a change. Time for transformation!!!

Perhaps we decide to become conscious of our food habits and choose to eat better.

Or, maybe it's time to lace up those sneakers and exercise.

And for some it's time to ease up on the physical body and get a massage or finally try yoga, etc.

And still for others perhaps there's a sense of the inner body that feels "off". Anxious, afraid, alone...endless cycle of emotional up and down.

Why does connecting with the body matter?

From a practical sense, we need it in order to live so why not take care of it the best we can?

On a deeper level, the physical body is a powerful doorway for us to access wisdom and therefore transformation. Can't change what you don't know/want to know :)

And while some wisdom traditions may teach denying the body and/or ignoring the body, in my experience, it is the exact opposite. We must pay attention and learn. Then apply those lessons in the form of action.

How do we access the physical body, in a deeper sense?

It varies.

Yet one thread runs through all of it and that is the practice of presence...awareness. A.K.A - paying attention.

Some of us pay attention quite naturally and either choose to take action or not. Doing nothing is also a choice :)

Others of us engage in movement practices - yoga/running/walking outside/dance... to help us get in touch/feel the inner body.

And still others rely on meditation, massage, or other forms of energy healing to assist in bring us into deeper awareness.

There's no right or wrong way.
And the "way" may change over time as you change. Nothing is permanent in this world of form. Ha!

As I say during our weekly meditation classes, the only "wrong" way to meditate is simply to not do it all.

And so it is with life and dealing with change. We will either consciously choose to listen to our body or not. Regardless, life / transformation happens anyway. We can embrace it (peaceful path) or fight it (suffering path).

I don't know about you. I rather the peaceful path.

Namaste,
Stephanie