Course XIX - Teaching 2: Degeneration in Postures

The noble upright posture, acquired by men after millennia, is an emblem of his evolutionary state, distorted at present by usual human postures, curved and asymmetric, which faithfully reflect human depressions, limitations and disharmonies. The human postures that usually we observe are a true caricature of the posture that should be naturally assumed.
When human reason tries to satisfy desires and passions that are fostered by selfishness and is not guided by the Divine, this reason changes every natural development and therefore destroys the harmonious rhythm and beauty. All events in the physical plane are no more than reflections of subtle –by much more real– astral, energetic and mental planes, which the Spirit watches over as total and main synthesis; when in one way or another one omits this, as it occurs quite often, its effect is degenerative on any level, whether in sciences or arts, and even in the spiritual path itself. So, the present man, constantly unbalanced within, is continuously in stressed from foot to head. In order to relieve somewhat his painful members, self-absorbed in an easy chair, he crosses his legs and adopts a position that is entirely ridiculous as much from the aesthetic as from the physiologic viewpoint; by no means this can be named relaxation, and you deceive yourself when you change your position by assuming other Posture that even can be tenser. A long unnecessary tension in one or several muscles, as it occurs quite often, means useless energy waste that many have tried to avoid by practicing certain relaxation exercises. But these outer systems of relaxation are however not entirely successful because one cannot get a true muscle relaxation through physical means alone; we can achieve its true perfection during the Divine Ecstasy.
Also, a continuous change of posture, that is, through useless movements, is an unnecessary energy waste, and at the same time reveals mental instability.
Gradually, the study and practice of postures enable to remove these difficulties by educating in the Son his capacity of continuous self-control, which is a power that by itself already becomes an invaluable conquest for seekers of a quick spiritual development.
To stand leaned on a wall, table, chair, et cetera, or bent with the body weight leaned on one leg, or to drop on an easy chair with the legs crossed, separating or stretching them too much, with the body totally inclined backwards and sunk in the back of the easy chair… all this is an unpleasant spectacle for Superiors and other Sons; this attitude is not only disrespectful, but also reveals inner disharmony with everybody.
Most bad habits in postures can be corrected by paying a little of attention, while other bad habits –especially the back curvature– demand true re-education.
The Son cannot practice and understand wonderful ancient postures –some of which demand extraordinary flexibility– if previously he is not able to remain self-controlled during the three basic postures that continuously are assumed: standing, seated and lying down.