About those unnatural adherences....

Unless the mind, body, and spirit are
equally developed and fully
integrated, no spiritual peak
or state of enlightenment
can be sustained.
This is why extremist religions
and ideologies do not bear fruit.

When the mind and spirit are forced into
unnatural austerities or adherence
to external dogmas, the body
grows sick and weak and
becomes a traitor to
the whole being.
When the body is emphasized to the
exclusion of the mind and spirit,
they become like trapped snakes:
frantic, explosive, poisonous
to one's person.
All such imbalances inevitably lead to
exhaustion and expiration
of the life force.

True self-cultivation involves the
holistic integration of
mind, body, and spirit.
Balancing yin and yang through the
various practices of the Integral Way,
one achieves complete unity
within and without.
This manifest in the world as
perfect equilibrium,
and perfect grace.

Verse 58
Hua Hu Ching:  The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu
Brian Walker