Train your brain and fill your body’s cupboard. Taking charge of the biochemistry – in your own body – that is the physical basis of your well-being and your capacity for contemplative practice.

In contrast to most of the classes in my course, which are about using your mind to change your brain to benefit your whole being – using mind to change matter to benefit mind – this class is about using matter (i.e., molecules) to change matter to benefit the mind.

So, after we present an experiential exercise, the bulk of this article will be pretty data intensive. Take care of yourself both with the exercise and with all the information – and if you just want to cut to the chase and learn the specific things you can do for yourself, just zip to the end and read the two boxes: Your Biochemical Foundation and Targeted Nutritional Interventions.

What Happens When You Regard Your Body as Your Beloved?

Introduction

Building on the previous class (#3) on your precious life, we suggested an exercise that course participants might do as we approached this class (#4) on optimizing your biochemistry. Here it is:

Any time you like, imagine that your own body is a beloved pet, a precious loved one, or a sacred temple. After taking a moment to settle into that attitude toward it, then ask yourself, “How do I feel moved, now, to treat my body?” Let answers come to mind – and to heart.

If the answers to this question are different from how you normally treat your body, perhaps follow the guidance in those answers for a single day – or even a single meal – and see how that feels.