FT

Harmony Quote

Saturday, 4 July 2020 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“The body is mortal, but the person dwelling in the body is immortal and immeasurable.” –Bhagavad Gita

 

When I say that this body is not me, I am not making an intellectual statement. It is an experiential statement. If you were to ask me, “Who is this body?” I would make an awful pun; “This is my buddy. I give him food and good exercise, and I look after him very well, but he is not me.”

My body has always been my faithful buddy, through many trials, and during many difficult times; and I let him know how much I appreciate his faithful service. We have an understanding. I take very good care of him, and he looks up to me as the boss.

As Saint Francis used to say, “This body is brother Donkey. I feed him, I wash him, but I am going to ride on him. “Whenever we use drugs, or smoke, or drink, or even overeat, the donkey is riding on us. Francis challenges us: “Don’t you want to get that donkey off your back and ride on it?”

(From ‘Words To Live By’ by Eknath Easwaran, founder of the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, copyright 2005; reprinted by permission of Nilgiri Press, P.O. Box 256, Tomales, Ca 94971, www.bmcm.org.

COMMENTS