Mind, Body, Soul

This program is about the connections among our mind, body, and soul, and how well-being or unbalance in one of these realms can affect the others. We consider how our view of the body affects our perception of ourselves and others, as well as members’ rituals and spiritual practices to strengthen our minds, bodies, and souls.

Member Preparation

In preparation for this session, read through the following quotes, and take some time to think about your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body." - C.S. Lewis

"The body is an instrument, the mind its function, the witness and reward of its operation." - George Santayana

"Our lives march to the molecular beat of our tissues. Our spirits sing to the music of our biology." – Sherwin Nuland, The Wisdom of the Body

"The mind's first step to self-awareness must be through the body." - George Sheehan

"The body is a sacred garment." - Martha Graham

"It's also helpful to realize that this very body that we have, that's sitting right here right now... with its aches and it pleasures... is exactly what we need to be fully human, fully awake, fully alive." - Pema Chödrön

These questions provide ways you may want to approach this topic. Remember to focus on just one or two of the questions, if you choose to use them, as this will allow you to explore the topic in more depth.

  • How does your physical being affect your spiritual well-being? Do you have physical rituals or spiritual practices that you engage in during times of stress?
  • Advocates for the disabled remind us that we are all "temporarily abled." Have you ever had a disability - temporary or permanent - that presented you with a spiritual challenge? How did you handle it?
  • How do you feel and act when you encounter a person who is visibly disabled or disfigured? What does our shared belief in the "inherent worth and dignity of every human being" call you to do in such a situation?

Further Exploration