After reading Eesha’s installment, “Befriend the Body,“ I decided to implement what I had read by taking a bike ride through the exuberant spring countryside with the intention of “making time to breathe in the spirit of spring.“ Whenever I chose a route, I considered its length and difficulty. My “barometer“ was my awareness of my physical condition, which caused me to take a satisfactory pace.
Once these practical elements were well defined, I was able to focus my attention on the landscape and the flow of my breath. This enabled me to maintain a feeling of ease within me. Along the way, I was happy to recognize many varieties of flowers, culminating with my sighting of three majestic asphodels. I enjoyed the fresh air, the luxuriant green meadows, the brilliant yellow rapeseed fields, and the prana in all the nature around me.
As I take care of my body, I maintain a dialogue with this dear friend. In this friendship, my body and my soul—while remaining two—are one.
Rodez, France
Shortly before reading Eesha’s installment, “Befriend the Body,“ I had been considering constructing a handmade book to hold some photos that are sacred and precious to me. When I awoke this morning, I felt ready to carry out that intention, filled with love and a comfortable level of energy.
However, soon after that, my energy level plummeted. This was my “barometer” on this occasion. It alerted me to the recognition that I was clearly about to overstep what my body could handle. Instead, what my body needed was nourishment (rather than hunting for supplies and tools) and to postpone the project for the time being. In this instance, I allowed grace to show me that I needed more rest in order for some healing to continue.
I love contemplating these words of Baba’s we heard in the Easter satsang. It is like hearing the Truth played on a celestial harp. These days I find that my “barometer” usually takes the form of a message from within the body—my very own temple of the heart.
California, United States
In answer to Eesha’s concluding questions, the “barometer” that I use is implementing a “capacity check-in.” I ask myself if my body is strong enough to undertake the action I am contemplating. I also check what kind of state I am in mentally and how I am doing emotionally.
I appreciate that there is a difference between not having the capacity at all to do something versus having the willingness and ability to stretch beyond my comfort level, which can help me to grow.
Years of doing sadhana have taught me to trust that, if my body does not have the capacity, that is all right—since I am not indispensable. More than once, when I have turned down an opportunity, I have seen someone else step up and thrive in carrying out the assignment. On the other hand, when I do have the wherewithal for a task, the action so often flows naturally. And I am likely to delight in it!
Michigan, United States
The COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 was not a good friend to the bodies of most of us. In my case, the swimming pool I used three times a week closed for eighteen months. This deprived me of one of my best gifts to my body: regular, demanding exercise. And the anxiety around doing errands, like shopping, meant I was much more sedentary than was good for me. The result? I developed high blood pressure for the first time in my life.
The silver lining to this problem was that I now faithfully monitor my blood pressure at home—which brings me to my answer to Eesha’s two questions. I use my blood-pressure readings as a “barometer” that tells me whether I am needlessly creating too much stress in my life by taking on more commitments than my body is comfortable handling. These barometer readings have taught me to “befriend my body” by prioritizing its needs above those of the people requesting my time and energy for their projects—an invaluable life lesson!
Illinois, United States
