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The
Temple of the Body:
Honoring, Healing, & Celebrating
Your Gateway to Spirit
In Tantra,
we explore practices that take us beyond the physical dimensions of
our bodies, moving our awareness into the energetic realm and beyond
in order to experience deep states of consciousness and transformation.
In fact, as a spiritual path to awakening and enlightenment, Tantra
begins in the body and with the senses. It celebrates the body as
the temple of the spirit. It seeks to awaken our senses and, through
that awakened sensory experience, to liberate and expand our life
force energy throughout our bodies. Ultimately, Tantra teaches us
to unite that awakened life force energy with our higher consciousness
– a seminal moment that opens the doorway which connects us to
the source of spirit.
Indeed,
ancient spiritual paths and practices such as Tantra, yoga, meditation,
Buddhism, Sufism, and others all recognize that when there is perfect
harmony between our body and our mind, there is the opportunity to
experience the ultimate state of wholeness, the ecstasy of aliveness,
and the sacred union with the absolute. These traditions teach us
that our body is our temple, a sacred vessel through which life force
can flow and provide the gateway to connect with spirit.
Our
message for you is simple. This is the only body you will ever have.
The quality and longevity of your life is determined by the way in
which you care for, nurture, and make friends with this sacred vessel.
So we invite you to take an inner journey. A journey towards embracing,
healing and transforming obstacles or resistances in your body, as
well as for honoring and celebrating the joys and delights of being
in your body.
First,
take an inventory of any challenges you experience about being in
your body – including the way your body changes and ages along
the journey of life. Consider physical, energy, movement, and emotional
challenges such as disability, pain, body image, coordination, stress,
self care, and others.
Now…
just breathe. Using the ancient Tibetan practice of Tonglen:
with each inhalation visualize that you are taking in these challenges;
and with each exhalation visualize that you are exhaling qualities
that ease and provide relief from that challenge or suffering. After
a few minutes, make the practice bigger. With each inhalation, breathe
in the challenge and pain of all beings that are suffering from the
same challenges as you; and with each exhalation breathe out relief
for theirs and your suffering. Know that with each inhalation, you
are melting your heart open to greater compassion and heartful connection
with yourself and to all humanity.
Next,
take an equal amount of time to honor and celebrate the joys of being
in your body. What are the delights and pleasures your body brings
you? What aspects of your body are you most grateful for? Consider
the physical, energy, movement, and emotional delights of your body
such as pleasure, sports, recreation activities, sensory delights,
touch, and others. What brings you simple pleasure, excites you, makes
your heart sing? Take the time to really honor, celebrate, and affirm
these gifts.
Finally,
we invite you to make a commitment to regularly thank and honor your
body for all the lessons and gifts that it brings to you and your
life. With loving intention, know that you are empowered to awaken
and bring healing, harmony, and celebration to your body as you open
to the wholeness and radiance of your soul.
Namaste.
And be well!
