Aligning Body and Spirit
Oct 27, 2024 4:28 am
Hi there,
In spiritual work, the relationship between body and spirit can be complex. Each discipline navigates this intricate alliance in its own way.
Spirituality has its own agenda, often at odds with that of the body, which prioritizes survival—eating, sleeping, staying warm, reproducing, and feeling safe. Compounding this challenge are the body's sophisticated brain and emotions, shaped by personal memories and cultural influences. The body can be greedy, indulgent, and resistant to spiritual pursuits.
For many, spirituality is an afterthought, contributing to the pervasive greed, fear, conflict, and violence in the world—a disconnection from the spirit.
You, however, recognize the importance of spiritual growth, a commitment that not only enriches your life but also uplifts those around you. It is worth the effort.
The body disrupts spiritual practice in three main ways: incessant thoughts, volatile emotions, and a reluctance to endure physical discomfort. While spiritual work equips us with tools to manage these bodily urges, we must acknowledge the body’s strength and determination, which is why spiritual growth can be challenging.
Different practices offer various approaches to harmonizing the body and spirit. I’ve chosen the Sufi path under my teacher, Adnan, finding it joyful, playful, and active compared to other disciplines. Yet, I value exploring other practices to enhance my journey.
Adnan’s Sufi teachings invite the body into spiritual work, much like yoga. Instead of sitting in silence and pretending discomfort doesn’t exist, we are free to change positions or lie down as needed, minimizing the internal pressure from our egos to conform to rigid expectations.
Conversely, the sitting meditation of Buddhist mindfulness can be physically demanding. However, it teaches us to confront discomfort rather than resist it. Stephen Levine, in "A Gradual Awakening," highlights our tendency to resist pain—whether boredom or injury—often exacerbating our suffering through tension and negative thoughts. Buddhist practice encourages us to accept discomfort, allowing us to explore both physical and emotional pain without clinging to it, a revelation I often share with clients grappling with grief.
In Sufi practice, we engage our bodies through slow, rhythmic movements, which occupy our minds and draw our awareness to the sensations of movement. We notice the air against our skin or the relief of stretching our backs. This dynamic practice fosters both relaxation and strength, enhancing flexibility and resilience.
Chanting presents its own challenge. Though we incorporate movement, our thoughts can still swarm like mosquitoes. Here, a Buddhist technique can be beneficial: letting thoughts drift by like bubbles. If a thought captures your attention, simply acknowledge it and let it go, without striving for perfection. I visualize swiping away distracting thoughts as I would on a touchscreen.
Emotions can be even stickier distractions. In my work as a grief coach, I see how overwhelming feelings can dominate our thoughts. Levine suggests we can address emotions like we do thoughts, but sometimes emotions require acknowledgment and acceptance before they can be released.
I recall a summer Sufi retreat when I was engulfed by anger. Despite my attempts to rationalize it away, I felt it swell within me. Thinking anger was unspiritual, I repressed my feelings, only to have them intensify. Eventually, I stopped resisting and accepted my anger. Once I embraced it, its power diminished and faded.
Spiritual work teaches us to collaborate with our bodies. The more we engage in this practice, the easier it becomes to let go of intrusive thoughts, emotions, and discomfort. One of the gifts of spiritual practice is the cultivation of peace, calm, and acceptance.
When I feel overwhelmed—by the impending election, my business, or personal relationships—I often shift into a state of spiritual awareness, allowing my fears to dissipate. In those moments, I am filled with a quiet trust that all is well in the universe.
Because Europe has already shifted to standard time, and the USA does not shift until November 3rd, Sufi Classes will meet 1 hour later in the USA this week only: Sunday, October 27, 9:00 am PDT and Tuesday, October 29 at 11:30 am PDT
The Zoom LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88050735178?pwd=zkrVoc4Mtg0pSXtAAWmoCrHWQb2qb1.1
Don’t forget to use the password SUFI all in caps if you are asked for the password.
Be brilliant,
Dr. Michelle
Life Transformation Coach
Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss
Secrets of Life and Death
