Eknath Easwaran's Commentary
The body is the temple of the Lord and, if looked after with care, is beautiful even in old age. Childhood has one kind of beauty; youth another; and old age its own special beauty. Even in the evening of her life, my grandmother had a beautiful, healthy body because she was always aware that this temple had to be kept in good order, swept with the mantram broom, and purified through the daily practice of meditation.
We show respect for the Lord, the Self within, by keeping the body healthy and beautiful. Where books, movies, television, and our eating and exercise habits are concerned, we must be vigilant to see we are not indulging the senses at the cost of the health of our body or mind. It is not that we cultivate an ascetic attitude. It is just the opposite. We don’t mortify the body, but see that every day it gets what it needs for health, so that it will be a valuable, vital instrument until our last day.