Is there a hidden bias in our view of human nature that stems from a view of the body as hierarchically inferior to the mind and spirit? Where did we get the idea that we could not trust the nature of ourselves?
Arguments for the inherent wisdom of the body come from all areas of study within the biological sciences and medicine. In anatomy and physiology, we learn about the inherent qualities of how an organism functions as a unit, how structure and function are integrated, interrelated, and self perpetuating. Living things have the amazing quality of being able to move matter from a state of disorder into order!
I could go on about this! THIS WONDROUS INTELLIGENCE THAT IS PRESENT IN EVERY CELL OF OUR BODY CALLS OUT TO US DECLARING THAT EVERYTHING IS PART OF A GREATER, COHERENT WHOLE.
If we are loved, if we love ourselves wholly, our body will respond with gratitude and be a vehicle for us to use to function in the world. The exaggeration of tendencies toward inertia and excess are a result of the collective and accumulated violence we have performed toward each other over many centuries in many cultures. We have sadly come to see our lack of balance as normal and even expect it in each other and ourselves, calling it our "nature" and accepting it as such. This is a harmful shared delusion that does not further peace in the world or our collective evolution.
The body is a wonder and a teacher. Why would we choose to treat our body with less respect than we would treat a cherished child or grandchild? The path to peace is to love: first yourself, body, mind, soul... --and then it begins to spread.....
May it continue to spread.
dng