Maggid from Mezritch: Consider Your Wife Physically Repulsive

In the writings of the Maggid of Mezritch, the successor of the Ba'al Shem Tov (founder of the Hassidic movement), he suggests that one should view his wife as being physically repulsive and love her just like he loves his tefillin.

Here's the original (Tzava'as haRivash 123:2):

Translation:

A man should love his wife in the same manner that he loves his tefilin – that is solely because the tefilin are an instrument for fulfilling G-d's commandments.

He should not think about her as a desirable physical being.

This is explained by the following: A man who wants to travel to the market and he can only travel there by riding a horse - should his need for the horse cause him to love the horse?
Is there any greater nonsense to think such a thought?

Similarly, in this world a man needs a wife in order to fulfill the service of G-d in order to be able to merit the future world. And if he neglects his service of G-d in order to think about her –
Is there any greater nonsense than that?

Rather he should view her as physically repulsive.

Therefore, if he sees a beautiful woman, he should realize that the white components of her body come from the father's semen while the red components are from the mother's blood which is repulsive and if he places such on food – the food would become disgusting.

What a fine example of the value of a woman in Judaism!

Hat tip: StM.