What is a body?
Any vessel is nothing more than a container used to transport something or store safely some precious item. The precious item being stored and transported is ‘you’. And although you inhabit a body the body is not you just like tea is not the cup it resides in. The tea simply takes the form of the cup it resides in. When you drink the tea it then takes the form of you.
So why do we judge so many vessels, 8 billion of them in fact, on the superficial exteriors as good or evil, kind or stingy, ugly or attractive, male or female, gay or straight, or any number of skin deep qualities?
Simple, some is biological or evolutionary but the majority of our 'tastes' are taught. We are indoctrinated as what is safe or likable, most being superficial qualities, by where we live. A square jaw and broad shoulders in a male symbolizes safety and security in Western and European culture but maybe not so much in Indian or Asian. In essence it’s tribalism. And tribalism in modern societies is hurtful and damaging to everyone, including towards the ones that are within the tribe.
When we embrace and diligently practice mindfulness although we see these exterior differences, we validate each and every person's life experiences as they relate it to us, we understand that every emotion they have felt, we too have felt.
When we are truthful with ourselves that we do not like to experience feelings of fear, inadequacy, uncertainty, pain, disappointment, anxiety, separation, irrelevance, disenfranchisement, how can we inflict these conditions on others. That goes back to tribalism.
To begin ending tribalism, harmful divisive thoughts, and violent actions, we simply return home, to our breath.
We may begin with an in breath - I see the pain that my brothers and sisters have experienced.
And with an out breath - I walk with compassion and unity with all living beings as we are all brothers and sisters.
Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,
Vladimir
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