The last entry in this review of the connection between body and soul brings us to an exploration of our spirit. If you’re just now dropping in, you can read the previous posts in this series here: Part One (the physical body), Part Two (the energetic body), Part Three (the mental & emotional body), and Part Four (the intellectual body).
Anandamayakosha
Try this fun, gigantic word on for size… awn-AWN-duh-mai-uh-KOH-shuh. This term applies to the spiritual body or to the things that bring us true joy and bliss. While many of us being our yoga practice because we know it will be good physical exercise, it holds so much more substance. The ultimate goal of yoga is samadhi, or complete union with the Divine. Other cultures call this by names such as nirvana, bodhi, or enlightenment. In this space of unity, concepts such as “you” and “I” no longer exist because We are One. You may have caught brief glimpses of samadhi in your everyday life via the experience of those “aha” moments where everything seems to make sense. It is also something the people of every age have tried to achieve in ways that yield the opposite effect. In his book Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar states, “I can assure you that everyone seeks samadhi, and most of us seek shortcuts to get there. … People seek samadhi through drugs, alcohol, the danger of extreme sports, the romanticism of music, the beauty of nature, and the passion of sexuality.” As I noted in Part Four, there is nothing wrong with momentary pleasure in and of itself, as long as we recognize that it is a feeling that passes like any other. True bliss is something else entirely.
In many a late night conversation with my dad, he would often say to me that we humans have a God-shaped hole inside. Take a moment to reflect on this and I think you’ll know exactly what that means… The place inside of you that hurts, aches, and cries out for connection. The place you might try to cover up with a shield of comedy or harshness or doing too much. The place that may even make you run away from truly connecting with others because that idea is just… so… terrifying. The good news, though, is that it’s a space that can be filled by recognizing the Divine spark inside each one of us. Yes, that applies to you. You who are too hard on yourselves; you who blame yourselves and others for things far outside anyone’s control; you who yell at people in traffic (like me!); you who push others away; you are struggling just to get through each day. Especially on those deep, dark, sad days, I recognize that belief in something Divine is hard to come by.
So how do you seek Oneness with the Divine? What in your life brings you that sense of joyful contentment? For some it visits during meditation or quiets walks among nature or śavāsana. Some get to experience it in their daily work, whether that’s at home or office or factory or field. For others, it is in finding ways to give back. And for still others, it is in allowing oneself to receive the gifts that others want to provide (think about it… when was the last time you brushed off a compliment instead of simply saying, “Thank you”?). At all of these levels, I like to think that when we recognize the Light in each other, we make these connections spiritual ones. And if not spiritual, then at the very least mindful, thoughtful, caring. In my work as a therapist, I frequently see people working to turn their losses and injuries into helpful gifts for others (this applies so strongly to all of us healers out there!). This is such a wonderful way to bring Soul into things. We can let life’s injuries leave complete destruction in their wake and perhaps, for a time, we revel in that darkness. But eventually there comes an opportunity to rise up, to reconnect. Just be careful of the other extreme, giving too much and doing too much. Balance is always the key.
As usual, I hope that I have given you many things to wonder about… I find that there are very few tangible answers along our journey through life. I believe our body and soul are connected in so many ways, with a lovely dance swaying back and forth among all of our layers: body, energy, emotions, wisdom, spirit. Consider how you might more consciously connect all these qualities of your Self in your daily life. Are you eating foods that give you fuel for the day? Or are you eating in an attempt to fill the hole? Is your mind a safe harbor of gentle thoughts towards self and others? Or is it a minefield? Here’s wishing you grace and bliss in your own journey! And to those celebrating Thanksgiving this week, enjoy the communion of friends, family, and feasting!
