A Message from a Master ~ condemning the body ?

[Guest guest]

0273."Now about condemning the body. No path condemns the body or

the world. They do not condemn the body in vedantic sadhana. After

all, how can one perform spiritual practices without a body? It is

ridiculous to think that the body is unimportant. Not torturing but

training and taming the body is what is needed. A beginner cannot

simply declare, `Everything is divine, including the body, and

therefore, I am going to enjoy and indulge.' He is not going to

reach the goal that way. A certain amount of self-control is

absolutely necessary." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol.4 p292

 

Ammachi, "frangi888" <frangi888> wrote:

>

> "Respect of the soul is praiseworthy.

> Respect of the body is despicable".

>

> This leapt out at me too.

> I think having a sort of light respect and compassion for the body

is

> important, because, as you say, it's impossible to spiritually

evolve

> without it. To me, this is important, especially as seeing our

> Western culture is just emerging from that that lovely tired old

> paradigm of spirit vs. matter!

> Mother doesn't ask us to hate or mistreat our bodies. As far as I

> understand it, she asks us not to identify completely with them. To

> take care of them as needed, then forget about it. To me, she is a

> wonderful example of embodied consciousness.

>

>

> Ammachi, Max Dashu <maxdashu@l...> wrote:

> >

> > >Respect of the soul is praiseworthy.

> > >Respect of the body is despicable.

> >

> > Oh, the poor, despised body. It is one thing to elevate the body

to

> a

> > cult, to "feed the beast" by indulging appetites without any

> > discrimination, or to be proud of what an accomplished yogi, or

> > whatever, you are -- but to love this little bit of earth in

> > compassion for its transience is a way of seeing Devi in

everything.

> >

> > So many people hate their bodies. How can this be right? It is

> just

> > that the body does not come first, and is not who we ultimately

> are.

> > But so many have gone down the path of mortifying the flesh in

the

> > mistaken belief that it is evil. It too comes from the Divine

> Mother.

> >

> > >As the lamp cannot burn without oil, so too, you cannot live

> > >without God. God is within you all the time, inspiring you,

> lifting

> > >you up. Withdraw. Aspire. Meditate. Realise.

> >

> > Yes, yes, absolutely.

> > --

> > Max Dashu

> > Suppressed Histories Archives

> > Global Women's History

> > http://www.suppressedhistories.net

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this, Amarnath. It clarifies the point I recall

Amma saying on more than one occassion.

Angela.

Ammachi, "amarnath" <anatol_zinc> wrote:

>

>

> 0273."Now about condemning the body. No path condemns the body or

> the world. They do not condemn the body in vedantic sadhana.

After

> all, how can one perform spiritual practices without a body? It is

> ridiculous to think that the body is unimportant. Not torturing

but

> training and taming the body is what is needed. A beginner cannot

> simply declare, `Everything is divine, including the body, and

> therefore, I am going to enjoy and indulge.' He is not going to

> reach the goal that way. A certain amount of self-control is

> absolutely necessary." - Ammachi, Awaken Children, Vol.4 p292

>

> Ammachi, "frangi888" <frangi888> wrote:

> >

> > "Respect of the soul is praiseworthy.

> > Respect of the body is despicable".

> >

> > This leapt out at me too.

> > I think having a sort of light respect and compassion for the

body

> is

> > important, because, as you say, it's impossible to spiritually

> evolve

> > without it. To me, this is important, especially as seeing our

> > Western culture is just emerging from that that lovely tired old

> > paradigm of spirit vs. matter!

> > Mother doesn't ask us to hate or mistreat our bodies. As far as

I

> > understand it, she asks us not to identify completely with them.

To

> > take care of them as needed, then forget about it. To me, she is

a

> > wonderful example of embodied consciousness.

> >

> >

> > Ammachi, Max Dashu <maxdashu@l...> wrote:

> > >

> > > >Respect of the soul is praiseworthy.

> > > >Respect of the body is despicable.

> > >

> > > Oh, the poor, despised body. It is one thing to elevate the

body

> to

> > a

> > > cult, to "feed the beast" by indulging appetites without any

> > > discrimination, or to be proud of what an accomplished yogi, or

> > > whatever, you are -- but to love this little bit of earth in

> > > compassion for its transience is a way of seeing Devi in

> everything.

> > >

> > > So many people hate their bodies. How can this be right? It is

> > just

> > > that the body does not come first, and is not who we ultimately

> > are.

> > > But so many have gone down the path of mortifying the flesh in

> the

> > > mistaken belief that it is evil. It too comes from the Divine

> > Mother.

> > >

> > > >As the lamp cannot burn without oil, so too, you cannot live

> > > >without God. God is within you all the time, inspiring you,

> > lifting

> > > >you up. Withdraw. Aspire. Meditate. Realise.

> > >

> > > Yes, yes, absolutely.

> > > --

> > > Max Dashu

> > > Suppressed Histories Archives

> > > Global Women's History

> > > http://www.suppressedhistories.net

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>