Yes it is important not to be attached to the body as it is the strongest bond of ignorance.
To do so one must first stop thinking that I am the physical body. This does not mean one does not care about it. It is just that the care becomes bit impersonal. It is like the difference in taking care of one’s dress, keeping it clean and ironed and, identifying oneself with it, turning it into a symbol of pride and personality statement.
Detaching from the body self also means to practice equanimity in the ever changing seasons of the year as well as of life. One exercises to keep it fit and healthy but not to look good and impress others. One takes care when it gets cold or hot but one doesn’t let it trouble oneself. One takes care when ill but doesn’t feel afraid and allow all kinds of morbid thoughts to enter.
And one does all this not for the body’s sake with the idea of my body but because it is an instrument given by the Divine and should be fit and fine for the Divine Service.
It is an inner shift of attitude towards the body that is needed, neither neglecting it as ascetics do nor indulging in it as the materialists do but to take care as is needed but without making it the all-absorbing centre of one’s life through an excess attention on food (both extremes), dresses, outer appearances etc.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
