I am Not My Body

How many people look in the mirror and think the reflected image is who they are? Do we ever have a perception of ourselves that is true? It is wonderfully ironic that getting in touch with the body is what enables us to see that we are not our bodies. We are so much more. In the practice of grounding and mindfulness, we quiet the mind and feel the spirit that we are. In that space we viscerally understand our connection to every other spirit on the planet.

The physical experience can be delicious whether at a favorite restaurant, playing with a beloved or zipping down a slide at Water World, but it does not define us. Our bodies are what cause us to appear separate from others. They are our containers, our temples, and yet, we are all joined by a higher purpose that is born of Love. In the stillness we experience the Love that is much bigger than anything we have felt with another person. It is not special or unique to one, but it is the great unifier of all. When author of A Course in Miracles says: “I am not a body. I am free” (Foundation of Inner Peace, 1977) she refers to the freedom we can receive from a shifted perception.

Let me back up. When our minds are in control, they organize, plan, judge, divide like rats. Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate rodents, but by only looking down at the rodent, we miss the elephant. Our
minds tend to back us into restrictive boxes and bind us in a web. When we engage in

credit: M. Peti 2010

sports, martial arts, yoga, dance and/or mindfulness and grounding exercises, our bodies are called back into the big picture to save the day and unbind us. The blood flow travels out of the “reptilian” and limbic regions of the brain and into the prefrontal cortex so that we can engage in clear thinking. We become keenly aware of how intricate our thoughts are related to the body’s functioning. As we develop and nurture this broader awareness, we feel a sense of newfound freedom. Our happiness is no longer based on satisfying our senses or changing our appearance, but is derived internally.

Marianne Williamson

On Feb 17, 2013, Marianne Williamson posted on Facebook: "The body is like a suit of clothes that merely covers who we truly are. And who we truly are is a continuous flow in which we are not separate, but rather one. There is no place where you stop and I begin, except within a time and space continuum, which itself does not truly exist. What we call a dream is the ultimate reality, and what we call reality is only a dream."

Shinzen Young

Meditation can feel annoying and difficult, but with guidance and practice it can become an invitation to serenity and deeper awareness, ultimately leading to a sense of freedom and a consistent and pure state of being-in-love with others and every day life. I recommend the technique of Shinzen Young: http://www.shinzen.org/ "Here you will find how vipassana can be applied to many practical issues, as well as how it relates to other meditation practices such as Christian contemplation" (Young, 2013).