I believe that the attachment to our bodies as the sort of vehicles for
our souls could, quite possibly be arbitrary. Carolyn has stated a solid
arguement. I especially understood the Native American analogy. Since
we are ultimately an integral part of nature, there seems to be logic in
the idea that a bit of our "self" is in the pine tree we cut down for
Easter, the sun we bathe in, and the rivewr in which we swim.
However, I am holding onto the idea that our "self" is inbedded somewhere
within the limits of our body. Otherwise, if say my self was in some oak
tree in my yard in Pennsylvania, I would never want to leave home, for
fear of losing my identity...(plus, lightening storms would scare the
hell out of me!)
One other thing that popped into my head when I started pondering all
this was the whole attachment so many children have to certain dolls,
blankets, or other objects---and how they tend to bring the object
everywhere they go. Perhaps it is their manifested ojective self, kind
of like the oak tree could've been for me. So, the children would never
want to leave it home- it'd be like leaving their personality on the
kitchen table, it's not something ou just forget!
Welp, there's my contribution---I love this stuff! -Lynsey Wood