Integrating Spirit, Mind and Body

Last Friday I felt led to initiate a fast and by natural means integrate and harmonize the Spirit, Mind and Body. An integral practice like many that you can find on IntegralSkincare.com. There I outline an Integral approach to life as a, "multidimensional vision that provides a 21st Century perspective through a synergy of emerging technologies balanced by the personal and collective wisdom of natural therapies for mind, body and soul."

It's A philosophy that begins with the awareness that we are spiritual beings engaged in the human experience. An understanding that the mind without the spirit is as directionless, as the body without form is groundless.

In defining Integral Ken Wilbur states,

"The word  integral  means  comprehensive, inclusive,
nonmarginalizing,  embracing. Integral approaches to
any field attempt to be exactly  that-to include as many
perspectives,  styles,  and methodologies  as  possible
within  a coherent view  of  the  topic. In a certain sense,
integral  approaches  are "meta-paradigms," or ways
to draw together an already existing number of separate
paradigms into an interrelated network of approaches
that are mutually enriching. " -Ken Wilber, "Foreword",
in  Frank  Visser , Ken Wilber: Thought  As  Passion

One of the many ancient practices was Fasting which had many fascinating results. One of the more interesting comes from the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda which holds that the basic cause of many diseases is the accumulation of toxins in the digestive system and that by regular cleansing this will help remove and purify the body. Essentially giving the body the rest it needs to purify and heal itself. By fasting we give our bodies a physiological rest which builds up our Vital Force. The more of this energy we can direct towards eliminating the toxins and poisons in our system the more clean pure and healthy our body will be.

The 21st Century approach to this ancient principle from Evart Loomis M.D.  echo's these same thoughts.

Another interesting Ayurvedic viewpoint on fasting is its timing with the lunar phases. Like the earth, because the body is 80% liquid and 20% solid, gravitational forces play a large role in our emotional state of being. As these forces pull our oceans waters so too they can create an emotional imbalance within our liquid sphere causing irritability and anger which can lead to violence. Just ask any emergency Nurse or ER doctor and they will all say the full moon is a crazy night. People transform into a Lunatics. Fasting lowers the acid content of the body and acts as the antidote stabilizing the emotional imbalance that can be caused by the gravitational forces that shift our inner tides.

 Further research on the Kreb's/Citric Acid cycle on the release
of toxins and The Proton Motive Force might be interesting.

“As the hydrogen ions accumulate on one side of a membrane,
the concentration of hydrogen ions creates an electrochemical
gradient or potential difference (voltage) across the membrane.
(The  fluid on  the side  of the  membrane where  the protons
accumulate  acquires  a  positive  charge;   the  fluid  on  the
opposite side of the membrane is left with a negative charge.)
The energized state of the  membrane as a  result of  this charge
separation  is  called  proton  motive force  (def)  or PMF.”

When fasting, the PMF is increased, thus energy to promote self healing is increased.

Fasting is also about the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. Fasting helps by purifying oneself to create "attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul." The ancients understood that one could fast in order to reduce their desires and hence reduce their  sufferings as found in the second of the Four Nobel Truths.

In the Zen mind they beat down the ego through denial and sacrifice, exhaustion and hunger. Even the Hekhaloth's fasted at a minimum of 12 days a primary means to begin the journey as a descender of the chariot. By willfully imposing self-restraint the mind begins to focus and allows for contemplation of spiritual attainment of higher states of consciousness.

"The flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing."