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"We must take care of the body by giving it food, shelter, and clothing. This is necessary because the journey to the Self is only easy when the body is healthy. If a ship is not in need of repair, if it is in good condition, we can easily use it to go on a journey."
Treat the body with respect, nourish it with simplicity, allow it to rest, and keep it strong. Care for it—but do not mistake it for yourself.
This guide explores the foundations of physical well-being while gradually pointing beyond the body itself.
"You need a body that is in good working order in order to realize the Self. Realizing the Self is the only useful and worthy activity in this life, so keep the body in good repair till that goal is achieved.
Afterwards, the Self will take care of everything and you won't have to worry about anything anymore. In fact, you won't be able to because the mind that previously did the worrying, the choosing and the discriminating will no longer be there. In that state, you won't need it and you won't miss it."
The body is an extraordinary expression of life. Every heartbeat, every breath, and every movement happens through an intelligence that requires no conscious effort. Long before you learned to think, your body already knew how to breathe, heal, digest, and maintain balance.
Rather than trying to control every function, much of good health comes from learning to work with the body’s natural intelligence. Given nourishing food, movement, rest, fresh air, sunlight, and time to recover, it often knows exactly what to do.
The body is not something to conquer or perfect. It is something to understand, respect, and care for. The more you work with it instead of against it, the more naturally health and balance begin to emerge.
"To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear."
The body and mind are not separate. They constantly influence one another, each reflecting the condition of the other.
"The body and mind are not two separate entities. They are one."
The body deserves care, but it does not deserve worship.
"Allow your body to do whatever it came here to do. Do not interfere. Do not fight. Simply observe. Do not react. You will be okay."
"We are concerned not only with the cultivation of the mind and the awakening of emotional sensitivity, but also with a well-rounded development of the physique, and to this we must give considerable thought. For if the body is not healthy, vital, it will inevitably distort thought and make for insensitivity.
It is necessary that the body be in excellent health, that it be given the right kind of food and have sufficient sleep. If the senses are not alert, the body will impede the total development of the human being.
To have grace of movement and well-balanced control of the muscles, there must be various forms of exercise, dancing and games. A body that is not kept clean, that is sloppy and does not hold itself in good posture, is not conducive to sensitivity of mind and emotions.
The body is not the instrument of the mind, but body, emotions and mind make up the total human being, and unless they live together harmoniously, conflict is inevitable."
In yogic philosophy, foods are often described as sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
Sattvic foods — pure, fresh, and natural — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and herbal teas. These foods promote mental clarity, calmness, and balance — ideal for meditation, self-inquiry, and spiritual growth.
Rajasic foods — spicy, overly salty, caffeinated, or heavily processed items — stimulate restlessness and agitation. While they may boost energy and drive temporarily, they can lead to emotional turbulence, impatience, and distraction.
Tamasic foods — stale, heavy, processed, or intoxicating substances like fried junk foods, excessive sweets, and alcohol — dull the mind and weigh down the body. They foster inertia, confusion, lethargy, and disconnection from higher awareness.
Whether or not you adopt this framework, many people find that simple, whole foods naturally support both physical well-being and a quieter mind.
Rather than following rigid rules, learn to listen to your body. Eat when you are hungry. Stop when you are satisfied. Favor foods that leave you feeling energized, clear, and balanced rather than heavy or sluggish.
"When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need."
Sleep is one of the body’s greatest forms of restoration.
During deep sleep, the body repairs itself, the brain processes experience, hormones rebalance, and the nervous system recovers from the activity of the day. Nearly every system in the body depends on consistent, restful sleep.
Interestingly, the inner journey also supports healthy sleep. As the mind becomes quieter, unnecessary worry begins to dissolve. Many people find that meditation, self-inquiry, and living with less psychological resistance naturally lead to deeper, more peaceful rest.
Deep sleep also offers a quiet pointer toward our true nature. Each night the mind becomes quiet, yet we continue to exist.
"Resting is a deep practice of caring for ourselves."
Walking is perhaps the most natural form of movement. A daily walk grounds the body, settles the mind, and reconnects you with the rhythms of nature. It asks for nothing except your presence.
Stretching and gentle mobility help release accumulated tension and maintain ease throughout the body. As flexibility improves, movement becomes lighter, breathing becomes easier, and the body feels more at home within itself.
Strength is equally important. Whether through bodyweight exercises, lifting weights, carrying objects, or simply living an active life, maintaining muscle supports balance, posture, resilience, and healthy aging.
There is no single perfect form of movement. Anything that elevates the heart rate and gets the blood flowing helps the body detoxify, sharpens mental focus, and boosts mood through natural endorphins.
Walk. Stretch. Lift. Swim. Garden. Dance. Hike. Play. Choose activities you genuinely enjoy so movement becomes part of life rather than another obligation.
Consistency matters far more than intensity. A body that moves a little every day is generally healthier than one that is pushed hard only occasionally.
"Walking is man's best medicine. If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk."
The way we breathe reflects the state of the nervous system. When the mind is anxious, the breath becomes shallow and hurried. When the body is relaxed, the breath naturally becomes slower and deeper. By simply becoming aware of the breath, we begin calming both the body and the mind.
Whenever possible, breathe through the nose. Nasal breathing naturally filters, warms, and humidifies the air while supporting healthy oxygen exchange and nervous system regulation. Slow, steady breathing signals safety to the body and helps reduce stress.
Fresh air is equally important. Spending time outdoors, opening windows, and allowing yourself to breathe deeply in nature helps restore the body’s natural rhythm. Even a few mindful breaths outside can refresh both body and mind.
You do not need complicated breathing techniques. Simply breathe naturally, breathe deeply, and breathe with awareness. The body already knows how to breathe. Your task is only to remember to notice.
"Regulate the breathing, and thereby control the mind."
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."
Support the body with patience. Give it opportunities to rest. Create space for recovery as intentionally as you create space for activity. Balance is found not through constant effort, but through the natural rhythm of engagement and release.
"Do your best and then relax. Let things go on in a natural way, rather than force them."
A healthy body is not created by occasional effort but by the way you live each day.
"Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the trees, the clouds, everything."
"Become aware of the inner body. Feel the aliveness within."
As the mind becomes quieter and identification begins to loosen, the body may respond in unexpected ways. Some people notice increased sensitivity, waves of emotion, spontaneous laughter or tears, tingling, vibrations, heat, or periods of unusual energy moving through the body. Others experience very little at all.
"As the opening begins and deepens, the body may go through a tremendous amount. Kundalini is usually said to be responsible for these events, but if we just call it the energy of the body, it's easier to talk about. As the opening progresses, the body must readjust. When space opens up, it provides room for the body to re-harmonize and return to its natural state."
If the body feels unsettled, be patient. Integration cannot be rushed. Just as a wound heals in its own time, the nervous system reorganizes at its own pace.
Most importantly, do not become attached to unusual experiences. They come and go like every other experience. Some people experience dramatic energetic shifts. Others notice almost nothing. Neither is a measure of realization.
Trust the body’s intelligence more than the mind’s commentary about the body.
"The body has its own wisdom. When we stop interfering with it, it begins to find its own balance."
But no amount of health, strength, or longevity can answer the deepest question: Who am I?
The body deserves care, but it was never meant to become your identity. It changes from childhood to old age. It is constantly growing, healing, aging, and transforming. Yet throughout every stage of life, there remains the quiet sense that “I am.”
"You are neither the body nor in the body. There is no such thing as body. You have grievously misunderstood yourself. To understand rightly, investigate."
Let good health support the journey home, but do not make health the destination. The body will continue to change throughout life. What you truly are remains untouched by those changes.
"The body is a beautiful instrument; it is a vessel for the spirit. But it is not the spirit. The spirit is beyond the body. Recognize the body as a tool for experience and do not let it define you."
A sensation arises.
Warmth. Pressure. Comfort. Pain.
It is known.
The body moves.
It is known.
Thoughts about the body appear.
“I feel tired.” “My back hurts.” “I look older.”
These thoughts are also known.
"You are not the body. The body comes and goes. You are the witnessing consciousness in which all things arise."
"You have long been trapped in the snare of identification with the body. Sever it with the sword of knowledge that 'I am Awareness alone', and be happy."
The body continues to breathe.
It continues to age.
"Our identification with the mind and body is the chief reason for our failure to know our Self as we truly are."
Spiritual practice has an important place. They help quiet the mind and soften attachment.
As identification begins to soften, practice itself becomes lighter. There is less striving, less effort, and more simple resting in what has always been present.
Does the Self need to meditate? Does pure awareness need discipline? What requires effort is the mind, not the Self.
The purpose of practice is to prepare the mind to let go of identification with the mind and body.
The end of body identification is the beginning of inner freedom.
If you’d like to explore the role of spiritual practice more deeply, continue to the Sadhana Guide.
"For whom is sadhana? Again it’s for the mind and the ego. If you think it’s helping, by all means continue. But remember I said, “If you think it’s helping”. If you stop thinking you do not have to do any sadhana. I suppose sadhana is necessary as long as you believe you are the mind and the body.
Again, after all, who is doing the spiritual disciplines? Does the Self need to do that? Does consciousness need to do discipline? What needs discipline? The mind and the body. Therefore the more you are attached to the mind and body, the more you have to do sadhana."
Once identification falls away, something remarkable happens.
The body will continue to do the work it came here to do.
This doesn’t mean becoming careless. It means recognizing that life is already living itself.
You still care for the body. You nourish it, rest it, move it, and respond wisely to whatever life presents. But inwardly, something has changed. You no longer carry the burden of believing that your peace depends on controlling the body’s journey or forcing life to conform to your expectations.
"The only freedom we've got is to not identify with the process, even though your body's going through it. Do not attach yourself to what your body's going through. Keep your mind above it, keep your head in heaven and your feet on the ground. So we have no choice in the matter. Whatever is going to happen will happen."
Sensations are perceived.
"Your body is only an instrument. It is of the mind, and the mind itself is not real. One must realize that he is not the body and seek the source of the ‘I’-thought."
"The body itself is a thought. Be as you really are."