Upon the conclusion of the saint’s story in Play of Consciousness, Baba Muktananda writes: “If you really understand your body, you will fill it with yoga, love, and meditation.”1 Baba’s statement perfectly encapsulates the point of the story—and, of course, prompts further contemplation. I am especially drawn to Baba’s phrasing here, that we can “fill”the body with yoga, love, and meditation. It suggests that the body is more malleable than we might initially think.
True, we do not come into this world as entirely blank slates. The samskaras I referenced in the previous installment are said to accumulate over lifetimes. Not to mention that in a person’s current lifetime, their body will have its unique set of gifts, proclivities, and limitations. Still, as we’ve explored recently, we each have an infinite capacity to learn, unlearn, and relearn. We have the ability to fashion the body for almost any purpose we see fit. We can, in other words, “fill” it with whatever we choose.
Or with the result of what we don’t choose. The body will take on the color, texture, and flavor of whatever we give to it, whether or not we are deliberate about—or even conscious of—what that is. I’m reminded of the famous saying Nature abhors a vacuum. It’s a saying that Gurumayi has drawn upon in her satsangs, and it distills an idea expressed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Certainly it applies to our body in the formative years of childhood and adolescence, when we are constantly absorbing and being molded by all the many influences around us. But it is true in our adulthood as well; our brain, for example, continues to form, strengthen, and prune different synapses based on what we take in from our environment.
So isn’t it best to be as intentional as possible about the environments in which we place our bodies and minds? In his teaching, Baba is definitive. If we make the effort to understand our body, we will treat it well. When Baba speaks here of “understanding the body,” I take it to mean understanding what is made possible for us through this body—the greater purpose the body can serve, the destination toward which the body functions as a vehicle. And that is to know God.
If we really understand this—and I don’t mean just intellectually, but if we actually assimilate this knowledge into our being—then it makes sense that our approach to life would shift accordingly. In the original Hindi of this passage from Play of Consciousness, Baba uses the word purna, attaching it as a suffix to each of the activities he describes us engaging in. Yogapurna, Baba says—our bodies will be “full of” yoga. Premapurna, full of love. Dhyanapurna, full of meditation. Purna denotes fullness, completeness, wholeness, and perfection. It is a term that is often used in the Indian scriptures when describing God, the supreme Self, the Absolute. Each of the activities Baba mentions—the activities we do after understanding the body’s purpose—therefore leads us to God.
Now I’d like to hear from you. What are some of the methods you employ to better understand your body and its purpose? And as one season gives way to the next, how will you continue to breathe in the spirit of spring—to savor the rasa, the flavor, of life as experienced in this human body?
1Swami Muktananda, Play of Consciousness: A Spiritual Autobiography, 3rd ed. (S. Fallsburg, NY: SYDA Foundation, 2000), p. 271.
While working as a personal trainer and hatha yoga teacher, I have found the Guru’s teachings on the physical body so significant and transforming. I am inspired by the profound understanding of my body as a sacred abode, a place to know and honor my deepest Self.
I have learned that each movement, each exercise, each physical effort is a means to cultivate deep care for this sacred abode. And each movement session is an opportunity to offer respect and gratitude for the great gift of my body—my vehicle to unite with God within.
I am grateful to Gurumayi for her constant guidance, which is so relevant, so practical, and so profound in the midst of my everyday life.
California, United States
Baba ji’s golden words “yogapurna,” “premapurna,” and “dhyanapurna” echo deeply within my heart. They feel like a renewal, like I’m being filled with new energy. Reflecting on Baba’s words, I have begun a self-inquiry that has led me into a profound contemplation on this body as a temple of God.
I remember how, in the past, I tried to gain pride and a little acknowledgment from others by saving even very small amounts of money. In this process, I unknowingly neglected and tortured my own body instead of offering it complete love, Now I understand that neither money nor pride can preserve my true nature, my spiritual growth, or my physical well-being.
Over the past two weeks, as I’ve contemplated Baba’s teaching, I have surrendered to circumstances, accepted the truth, and begun expressing love to my body with sincerity. I have also become humbler and more generous toward everyone around me and able to forgive people more easily and quickly. I am experiencing a sense of universal brotherhood and sisterhood.
Above all, I have begun to deeply love this beloved body that has been given to me.
Pune, India
As soon as the Easter satsang finished, I resolved to study Baba’s teachings on the body in Play of Consciousness. I reread the passage that Ben read in the satsang. Then I reread the whole chapter in which it appears, “The Path of Love.” After that, I used the index to go deeper.
I was so glad when I read this installment by Eesha. I found it particularly helpful that she explained Baba’s words from the original Hindi. This inspired me to listen again to the reading of the passage, to reread it myself, and to reread the chapter in Baba’s book along with other chapters I had been drawn to.
During this time of contemplating Baba’s words, I had an experience in meditation of breathing freely—of allowing my breath to be unimpeded by thoughts, images, feelings, posture. In this way, I can breathe freely with the mantra, and I feel myself breathing in “the spirit of spring.”
Garges-les-Gonesse, France
It’s been twenty-six years since I received shaktipat. I observe how my sadhana and the Guru’s grace have profoundly transformed me, and I know this process will continue. At each stage, life has shown me how much more I can transform and become aware of in order to “learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Currently, I’m experiencing new transformations in my body that remind me that it is always in service of my journey toward my dharma to know God, the Truth, ever more deeply. I make efforts to calibrate my course and improve my direction, my habits, my actions, and my attitudes to support my continued transformation.
Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina
Reading Eesha’s reflection, I found myself thinking about how my relationship with my body has changed over the years.
For a long time, I thought of caring for my body mostly in terms of discipline and health. Now I am learning to listen more closely. This season of life is teaching me that the body has its own intelligence. It lets me know when to move, when to pause, when to soften, and when to trust.
Yoga, meditation, walking, conscious exercise, and being in nature help me return to that listening. They remind me that my body is not separate from my spiritual life; it is the place where I live, day by day.
I want to honor my body as a sacred companion on the path—a vehicle through which I can serve, love, learn, and receive grace.
This spring, I intend to savor the rasa of life with more presence, gratitude, and gentleness.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
I found the idea of “filling the body with yoga” so exquisite. I had the image of liquid, golden light coming down through the crown of my head and filling every cell of my being with bliss. During my sadhana, I’ve been acutely aware of how the sense of being imperfect covers my consciousness like husk around a grain of rice. This teaching from Baba, and the image arising in my contemplation, are great medicines for overcoming this sense of limitation. I shall hold these treasures close to my heart!
In contemplating the principle that “nature abhors a vacuum,” I realized that a big part of sadhana is choosing the “food” I feed my mind and senses, so that they maintain their clarity and purity. Engaging with the Gurus’ teachings on the Siddha Yoga path website and reading the webshares about them are such nourishment for me.
Eesha’s final question made me realize that “the spirit of spring” is not just a transient seasonal phenomenon. It is the eternal spring, the wellspring of Chiti Shakti that is constantly shimmering forth in my own consciousness.
New York, United States
As I was reading and contemplating what Eesha wrote so lucidly about the deeper meaning of Baba ji’s words, the word that made me contemplate further was purna or “full.” I realized that, with “full” enthusiasm and energy, I have to perform all my duties and responsibilities by “fully” understanding how my body responds.
Whether it is for mundane activities or my sadhana practices, I have to give my one-hundred-percent effort to achieve the state of equipoise and bliss, not only during meditation but also when I am performing my worldly responsibilities. I feel that complete surrender to Shri Gurumayi’s grace and shakti will make it possible for me to use my body for a higher purpose, that is, to experience the Self within my heart, within this very body of mine.
Lucknow, India
My approach to better understanding my body and its purpose is through curiosity and learning. For me, it is very important to understand my body and how it works so that I can make the right decisions in my life. After all, I wouldn’t attempt to fly a plane without first knowing how to operate it properly.
My body has its limits and needs, and it requires love, attention, discipline, and care so that it will be fit to serve as a vehicle for divine energy.
I nurture the spirit of spring by focusing on the beauty of nature and consciously experiencing that beauty through my senses, an open heart, and a calm mind.
Konolfingen, Switzerland
Ten years ago, when I was facing a serious operation, Gurumayi told me, “Make this the best time of your life!“ I found this to be surprising and wonderfully freeing guidance.
The teaching that supported me most during that time and onward was Gurumayi’s Message from 2001: “Approach the present with your heart’s consent. Make it a blessed event.“ As I focused on Gurumayi’s Message, I found myself relaxing, consenting, and accepting whatever condition my body was in—not resisting. I filled my body with the practices and the intention to be present and recognize the grace in every moment. It was a challenging yet beautiful time! I recently discovered I am facing another operation—and another opportunity to make this the best time of my life!
New York, United States
For me, meditation is essential for understanding my relationship with my body and mind. Bookending my days with periods of meditation sweeps my mind clean of past impressions and restores me to a state of detached awareness. The peace that I get from my meditations continues throughout my waking state and allows me to stay present for the task at hand. This ensures that I don’t overwork or underwork.
I have found that it requires only a small amount of effort to identify with the experience of meditation. So, I can do this throughout the day’s activities. In this way, I become a true friend to my body and mind, and they are friends to me.
At the end of the day, my last activity is another period of meditation before sleep. This is my way of thanking both my body and mind. It is through meditation that I center myself each day in my heart. This enables me to maintain the loving relationship with my body and mind and to sleep peacefully each night.
