Are the body and spirit one?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2003
Are the body and spirit one?
7
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 11:39am

We live in an earthly body.  I found when I went through weight loss many years ago, I felt better about myself, therefore went "within" during my physical transition.  I'd always been a meditative girl, yet I descended more into my basic foundation, so to speak.  I'd become healthier, yet more contemplative. 


I know it's my spirit that's important.  Yet, in this too physical world, the outer layer is judged.  When we die, the body returns to the earth and the spirit is free.  It is the spirit of that body that will live.


Last week, I saw a news clip of a mom who went to prison for a week because she kept her overweight daughter home.  The young girl was being ridiculed so bad, it became an emotional torture for her.  She tried to commit suicide a few times because the pain was too great.  The mom was aiding in her truancy.  I was aghast.  The woman was only trying to protect her daughter.


Sorry about rambling.  I wish this was simpler for anyone!  Why does one have to feel better because of a "smaller" size?


Opinions, anyone??


 


 

Puppy


Lady Cee  


    

 

 

152.6&n

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 12:03pm
I agree Cee.

Shyla

  

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2003
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 12:10pm
That's why I love your "real women have curves" blinkie.

 

 

152.6&n

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 4:11pm

No, I don't believe they're the same. But they ARE connected. The third of that sacred trinity is the Mind. The body is the physical vessel containing the Mind and the Spirit (or Soul if you prefer). It's an outward reflection of what's within. A physical manifestation. Think about how much better you look when you're feeling happy (the sparkling eyes, the glowing skin) versus when you're ill or depressed. How you look (not just weight, but overall health and presentation) reflect how you feel about yourself inside. How you feel inside literally shows. Conversely, we CAN improve how we feel inside to some extent by changing how the outside looks. Losing weight gives us more energy. A new haircut or color, or even a new nail polish color, might be just the little bit of cheer we need to overcome something that's been troubling us within.

OK, I'm getting all philosophical and rambly now. LOL Time to shut up. ;-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2000
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 6:23pm
interesting point! Yes, the spirit and the body AREN'T totally separate.... and is it maybe possible also that one is given excess weight, or maybe a physical deformity... or blonde hair, or whatever...
I'm thinking you're given the body you've got to help your spirit develop in the ways it needs to, you know? A very effective way to understand how an overweight person REALLY feels would be to BE an overweight person. Perhaps in each life you're given a different "vessel" depending on what your spirit needs to learn & grow about...?


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 05-23-2005 - 9:15pm
OMG, I hadn't even thought of it that way, but you're sooooo right! DH was severely burned as a toddler (given a 1:100 chance to even live!) and firmly believes that this was something he agreed to on a soul level before he began this incarnation. He believes the lesson is in humility.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2003
Tue, 05-24-2005 - 7:19am
True that.

 

 

152.6&n

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Tue, 05-24-2005 - 3:29pm

I've been overweight since I was a child so I know how hard being overweight is. Research shows though that even overweight people don't sympathise with others who are overweight unlike other 'minority groups'. Perhaps therefore part of the lesson for someone overweight is to learn genuine acceptance of others no matter what their exterior may look like? Just a thought.

Carol