The human body must be one miracle that we probably take for granted in our day to day lives. It is said to be a vehicle that carries Brahman or the Eternal Spirit itself, while being carried in it! What a mind-boggling paradox, or so it seems for those of us existing within the confines of the consciousness of a small “I”, a personal individuality around which the entire universe seems to revolve; this small “I” for whom life, mind and this body seem to exist and by whom too.
Moving away from this small “I”, moving a little further up, we can put on the glasses of objectivity and view the human body as would an anatomist or a physiologist. This is a body that comes into the world wired to respond to both internal and external stimuli in such a way as to ensure maximum chances of its survival. In normal conditions, the functions of the body work to clock work precision. Consider the heart that beats, non-stop, the same “lub-dub” rhythm, as long as the body is alive. Consider the breathing movements that continue on without our conscious control, regulated according to the concentration of carbon dioxide that the brain senses in the blood that reaches it. Consider the reactions of the body to heat and cold and how, within seconds it is able to prepare itself to counter the temperature changes in the environment. One point in case is the activity of shivering as an attempt to generate heat to keep the body warm as one emerges from a pool of water, or the dilation of the arterioles of the skin in order to lose heat, after a hot shower. Consider, the moments that follow a sudden trip. Watch the body right itself, in every fiber of the concerned muscles on the back, the buttocks, the legs and even the arms, to bring about a balance that prevents a fall, or when falling, that breaks it. Consider the reactions to falling water concentration in the blood and immediately, the sensation of thirst builds up and the body has us drinking some water. Rarely do we disobey this urge to quench our thirst, least aware of the mechanism that first prompted one to reach out for that glass of water. We consume food and this food is processed, its nutrients absorbed and the waste matter evacuated, all without any conscious control on our part. Consider the times when we needed some information. One scan through the drawers of our mind and a quick search through the files yield the right information we need for a particular activity. The myriad poisons and germs that enter the body are regularly countered and destroyed and very often, we emerge victors against battles against foreign invaders. The instances can be stacked up sky high and beyond. This body is a wonder and kudos to the creator of such a miracle.
Have we done justice to this grace that has been given us? Have we used our mind and our vital being to nurture this body that it will be a fit instrument that reaches out towards more and more perfection in the intent, from whichever plane, that it translates here in the physical world through work? Is it the case of our body dancing around to the whims and fancies of an ignorant mind and ambitious vital, abused and wearied and worn out in the process? Or is it a case where one has attempted to offer this body to a higher will or at least an enlightened mind and vital, to carry out its work to the fullest, in harmony and beauty?
This body can probably go far, further than we think it can. The bodies cultured by Olympians and the frontiers they have attempted to push and in some cases succeeded, must be testimony enough to the wonders this miraculous body can achieve with a conscious physical culture.
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