Du. Belly, abdomen. On the left of the symbol is the character for “flesh.” On the right is the phonetic meaning “earth. The belly, our base and center.
How many people think of their bellies? How many people are aware of what goes on down there?
Why think that spirituality is a matter of the head? Why think that abstract and academic speculations of philosophers will give you answers?
Our bellies are where we were connected to our mothers.
The bellies of women can give life.
Without the belly, you could not digest food — you’d be capable of precious little philosophy on an empty stomach.
Without the belly, you could not sit up straight.
Without the belly, you could neither twist nor turn.
Why do we ignore the belly? When we are under stress or disappointed, it is often in our bellies that we feel pain. When we are consumed with laughter, we laugh until our bellies hurt. When we are threatened, we instinctively protect our bellies.
Just as the word du combines the body and the earth, so too is the belly the true foundation of our efforts.
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How often do you trust your “gut feel”? Just for today, try going with your instincts and see what the results are. Listen to your belly to know when you are really hungry instead of just eating out of habit or boredom. Do some exercise to stregthen your belly and see if it doesn’t help you stand up straighter and feel better. See if your back doesn’t feel better as your belly becomes stronger. Oh, and thank your mother for all those months carrying you around!
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