Page 27 - NAMAH-Oct-2016
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Namah In the bubble
health, undisturbed repose and cheerfulness gradually step forward. This is a process of
and bright gladness constitute this element in saadhana.a If we learn to trust our body more,
it and give it strength and substance. It is a very a certain protection is established. Its voice
sensitive medium with facile and quick reactions; is very quiet; it can easily be muffled amidst
it readily takes in all kinds of suggestions and the din of its more overbearing neighbours.
these can rapidly change and almost remould its The key is contact.
condition. A bad suggestion acts very strongly
upon it; a good suggestion operates in the For instance, I might occasionally notice the
contrary sense with the same force. Depression body recoil from a food craving of the vital.
and discouragement have a very adverse effect; If I can detach from this impulse and go with
they cut out holes in it, as it were, in its very stuff, the body’s message, it usually saves a degree
render it weak and unresisting and open to hostile of harm. When the psychic moves closer to
attacks an easy passage (5).” the physical, the body may even install its
own alarm system against outside danger.
It is very clear that this protection is available One can observe it with animals. They have
to all. Anyone with a positive outlook will less to clutter away this natural gift. The
benefit greatly from it, even if he or she is cultivation of the body consciousness is an
unaware of it. It is not only the possession important facet of the Integral Yoga and it
gurus and spiritual aspirants. Anyone with takes a certain refinement to understand its
a strong vitality will unknowingly rely on it dialogue. This is no more evident than when
from time to time. However, as long as nature illness seeks to enter:
provides the only sustenance, the protection
will capriciously appear and disappear from “If one is sensitive, very sensitive — one must
our lives. It is only the imprint of the spirit be very sensitive — the moment they [illnesses]
that can give this protection the necessary touch the subtle body and try to pass through,
stability and permanence. To be conscious of one feels it. It is not like something touching
this shield gives it its greatest power. the body, it is a sort of feeling. If you are able
to perceive it at that moment, you have still the
So as I pass through the day, I find it helpful power to say ‘no’, and it goes away (6).”
to make repeated reference to this sheath. I try
to stay in touch with it. I have to resist the tugs So staying inside this insulation is not an inert
from outside and become aware of what the and passive state. One cannot shut oneself off:
physical consciousness is saying to me. I look attention is always required. Consciousness,
at this protection as a part of the body and accompanied with force, is the ultimate
try to look at the physical in its totality. The protection. It engenders a vigilance which
body is a channel for all movements, inside awakens to every intrusion. It is not born of
and out. For me, a chief aim of meaningful anxiety but from energy given by the Divine.
practice is to make the body an authentic It is a consequence of practice, by keeping our
channel for the spirit. The body itself has its awareness integrally poised over the whole
own sharpened sense of self-preservation. being. It is when our guard is down that risk
A clear discernment hides deep inside and ensues. If the attention is firmly anchored in
if one stays with it, a kind of intuition will a higher consciousness, one can pass through
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