Body

Avidya is a form of Prakriti that obscures the spiritual powers of the individual soul, forming a veil that hides the Supreme from the individual's vision.

Know the Self as the rider in the chariot and the body as the chariot. Know the intellect as the charioteer and the mind as the reins.

The Blessed Lord said: This body, O son of Kunti, is called the field; the one who knows this is called the knower of the field — so say those who know the truth.

You may believe in a God with form or a formless God, but your faith must be genuine and complete. It is through faith alone that one achieves everything.

The first quarter is Vaishvanara, whose sphere is the waking state, whose consciousness is directed outward, who has seven limbs and nineteen mouths, and who experiences gross objects.

Whatever action a person undertakes through body, speech, or mind — whether rightful or the opposite — these five are its causes.

As the wind carries fragrances away from their source, so the lord of the body, taking up these senses, departs from one body and moves on to another.

The hardship is greater for those whose minds cling to the Unmanifest, for the path of the Unmanifest is very difficult for embodied beings to attain.

Your true nature is pure existence, consciousness, and bliss. The physical body is just an illusion.

Kabir would say, 'The God with form is my Mother, and the formless God is my Father. Who should I blame or worship? Both sides of the scale are equal.'

O revered one, in this body tainted by bone, skin, sinew, marrow, flesh, semen, blood, and phlegm — fouled by tears, waste, urine, wind, bile, and mucus — foul-smelling and devoid of any true substance, what is the worth of indulging sensory pleasures?

From food, verily, all creatures that dwell on earth are born. They live by food alone, and in the end they pass into food. For food is the eldest among all beings; therefore it is called the medicine of all. Those who venerate food as Brahman attain all things. Food is the eldest of beings — thus it is called universal medicine. Creatures are born from food, they grow by food, food is eaten and in turn eats creatures — for this reason it is called food. Within and beyond this sheath composed of food-essence dwells another inner self made of vital breath; by that, this outer self is permeated.

Becoming the digestive fire within the bodies of living beings and uniting with the upward and downward vital breaths, I digest the four kinds of food.

Presiding over hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell — and the mind as well — this soul enjoys the objects of the senses.

The syllable 'gu' is that which transcends all qualities; 'ru' is that which is beyond all form. The one who bestows the state that is beyond qualities and beyond form is recognized as the Guru.

Ever keep the Guru's form in remembrance; always repeat the Guru's name; follow the Guru's instruction without fail; and let the mind dwell on nothing other than the Guru.

Drink the sacred water of the Guru's feet; eat the food blessed by the Guru's touch; always meditate on the Guru's form; and ceaselessly repeat the mantra received from the Guru.

The person who accurately knows the names of the unmanifest, the qualities, and their pure operations, is well-versed in the truth about all distinctions, freed from the body, liberated from all qualities, and enjoys absolute happiness.

The body is the boat that must be used to cross the river of life.

A warrior's strength lies in physical power, but a Brahmin's strength lies in forgiveness.