CONNECTING WITH THE INNER BODY

 

Please try it now. You may find it helpful to close your eyes for this

practice. Later on, when “being in the body” has become natural and

easy, this will no longer be necessary. Direct your attention into the

body. Feel it from within. Is it alive? Is there life in your hands, arms,

legs, and feet — in your abdomen, your chest? Can you feel the subtle

energy field that pervades the entire body and gives vibrant life to

every organ and every cell? Can you feel it simultaneously in all parts

of the body as a single field of energy? Keep focusing on the feeling of

your inner body for a few moments. Do not start to think about it.

Feel it. The more attention you give it, the clearer and stronger this

feeling will become. It will feel as if every cell is becoming more alive,

and if you have a strong visual sense, you may get an image of your

body becoming luminous. Although such an image can help you

temporarily, pay more attention to the feeling than to any image that

may arise. An image, no matter how beautiful or powerful, is already

defined in form, so there is less scope for penetrating more deeply.

The feeling of your inner body is formless, limitless, and

unfathomable. You can always go into it more deeply. If you cannot

feel very much at this stage, pay attention to whatever you can feel.

Perhaps there is just a slight tingling in your hands or feet. That’s

good enough for the moment. Just focus on the feeling. Your body is

coming alive. Later, we will practice some more. Please open your

eyes now, but keep some attention in the inner energy field of the

body even as you look around the room. The inner body lies at the

threshold between your form identity and your essence identity, your

true nature. Never lose touch with it.