The body is intelligent regardless if the mind is aware of it or not. The first order of forces creating and maintaining atomic structures is inherently intelligent process that, while as it evolves and eventually becomes self-aware, conducts all consequential extrapolated activity in a similarly intelligent manner, as it is being perceived and organized by the senses and brain. The recognized patterns of what makes sense in a sense of the initial order of the atomic and subatomic forces of the universe that reverberate on conscious, subconscious, subliminal, unconscious, whatever level are trying to provide for its inherent needs. The order of the body, however it is at this juncture with hefty 16,4884 billion years in making price tag, as part of the atomic realm of the periodic elements and forces that sustain them, sets the agenda, to do list so-to-speak, for the mind. The body is the cause of the mind, the realm of compounds such as water, not its effect. When the mind starts to think that it is the initial cause of the body, such mind is a mere projection of the ego, which is the baby child seed of the self -- the universe has its centre everywhere -- surrounded by the protective layers of developed in time personality, a mask or masks, shaped by the teen, adult, mature, and old ages, and not the body it is experiencing itself from and being extension off, thus it is called a fallen angel. When one's mind becomes proud, the first deadly sin aka Lucifer, its opposing virtue is humility btw, as a result of coming from one's ego, aka spoiled little baby, it wonders off away from its true love, its dear physical body, family, friends, planet, universe. Rene Descartes has famously stated, "I think therefore I am."* However I think the opposite is the true, I am therefore I think. It makes more sense to me and is more logically and actually accurate, unless one is willing make an assumption that the whole atomic and subatomic universe is a sheer gibberish, only purportedly starting to make any sense when it reaches the state of some quasi-conscience that resides somewhere outside the order of the rest of the universe, as though being suspended in the void, but nevertheless presumably managed to think of everything a head of time on its way here, including the "gift" of divine providence for human and all life on earth. sick. After all, one has to be first in order to think about it and then be not. "In China, Confucius believed that the Dao, the supreme reality, was now so alien from the world of men that it was better not to speak about it. 71"** Speaking of reality. One either has the body or not. the body is the cause and the mind is part of the body with purpose to serve its needs. As a matter of fact the stomach has as many neuro receptors as the brain and is plugged one way communication into the spinal cord sending orders to the brain, apparently not being very concerned what "it" thinks about it. The mind does not exist separately from the body, and the body is not clattering about it as flies around the pile of poo. The mind may think it is separate from the body, however that is commonly called demonic possession, when one's consciousness is reduced to being unconscious to such an extent that it becomes instead of symbiotic a parasite, computer virus-like, which sacrifices it's own host body for somebody's else benefit or for some perceived grand purpose other than looking after one's own needs, which may be grand deed but not for the host body that has needs to be looked after. Sure, in some cases self sacrifice can be rationalized for the greater good, however that is done by a conscious free will and for a good reason and as such does not make the mind the parent of the body. In spiritual terms, the proud mind refusing to bow before the Adam, aka the body, is called the fallen angel of God of Hosts, aka the body, and is thus leading to the eventual damnation of the soul, aka emotional connection to oneself and the world. You may think you are rich or good looking or smart or can fly or what not, but the reality still remains with the body as the prime cause with the consciousness arising form it not causing the body to manifest around some idea of oneself out of void. The subconsciousness processes six to seven billion pieces of information at any moment with only two to three thousand made aware to the conscious mind, therefore the consciousness is mere reflection of the physical processes taking place within and without the physical body and not originator of it. Granted that once the needs are satisfied the mind is free to do what it wants but that is not to say that the wants supersede the needs. One will not go dancing if one is bleeding to death or starving or need to go to relieve themselves. Keeping the priorities in proper order is the sign of a healthy mind. In any case, the mind is not separate from the body, the ego, aka notion of oneself, that is disconnected from the body and reality at hand is what separates the healthy ego of symbiotic consciousness from the unhealthy parasitic egocentric demonic unconsciousness. if one pays attention to one's own body, which is at the centre of macro and micro universe -- "the universe has its centre everywhere and its circumference nowhere," since a centre is a point of reference -- then one will pay more attention and respect the bodies, hence the needs, of others. The healthy mind has to help the body with survival needs and basic functions. in the symbiosis with others and the environment, before the mind is free to do what it wants, because it wants to do much, so is the body, hence learning to respect the priorities in life. The body is holy the rest is a story. Nobody can love me more than i am. If one has love (care) for themselves, then one can share that love with the others. One cannot share what one does not posses. The universe is a playground and the earth is where we learn how to share it. In silent body the abode of soul in search of peace but restless mind needs to know and spirit loves to live. "Although the world's religions may differ fundamentally from one other in their metaphysical views, when it comes to their teachings on the actual practice of ethics, there is great convergence. All the faith traditions emphasize a virtuous way of being, the purification of the mind from negative thoughts and impulses, the doing of good deeds, and living a meaningful life." -- Dali Lama peace. T.L.H.P.O.T.U. http://about.me/theUniverse ______________________________________ * - The inverse Rene Descartes analogy was suggested by Yehudah Lionel Cullman after reading my article. 71 - Confucius, Analects 5:6; 16:2. ** - A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong, The Axial Age, p.83