The body and spirit are interconnected. If one suffers, so does other. When we experience disappointment, we immediately feel tired and un-motivated. At other times we hear news of horrible loss, and the pain of that loss digs deep into our bones. Spiritual pain seeps into marrow, and the body aches.
The opposite is also true. Bodily harm drains the spirit of vitality. Anyone who has lost the use of their limbs will experience a dark night of the soul. The loss of a part of the body is a loss of a part of the soul.
The ancients made a stark separation between the body and soul, or spirit. The former is bad, something to be overcome. The latter is better, a more virtuous part of humanity. This led to kind of dualism that damaged the spirit. Although an embodied activity, sleep is spiritual. Getting a good night of sleep is a spiritual venture. Lacking sleep ignites the spirit into bitterness and lethargy.
And these obvious-after-spoken truths have been observed for thousands of years. One of the oldest sages in history has laid down a path of spiritual wisdom, which is described as medicine for body. Wisdom is medicine for a physical body, and the Proverbs prescribe forms of medicinal wisdom for a number of ails. [Read more…] about Wisdom as Medicine