Sense and Sensibility 26
Oct 2008
Do we know where the mind is actually
located?
Our bodies, our thoughts and emotions, truly mirror each others.
When our mind is at peace, our bodies look relaxed. If our thoughts
and emotions, comprising the mind, are located in the brain, how does our
body reflect what we are thinking? Is it possible that our minds reside
throughout the body and not just in the brain? While the brain remains
the primary analyzer; our mind is not located there and is instead more
like an information-processing field spread across the body. Every cell in
our body is capable of feeling and expressing emotion.
Once we recognize that feelings are
essentially felt in the entire body, it is easy to appreciate how emotional
problems can manifest into physical disease. As Marshall Glickman explains
in his book Beyond the Breath, "Neuroscientists have learnt that
there is a sophisticated communication network between the various cells
throughout the brain and the body. Every time we deny or block what we are
feeling, we restrict the information flow to an area, resulting in the
stressed organs becoming more more prone to illness."
A number of traditional healing
techniques, like Reiki, too have espoused that our thoughts and emotions
have a direct impact on the physical state of specific parts of our body.
Reiki practitioners advocate that at the time of birth, our bodies are
conductive to freer flow of the life-supporting, universal energy through
them. However, as we grow up and experience negative emotions, they impact
the natural energy flow through the body, Repressed and stored emotions then
create corresponding blocks that interfere with the body's synchronized
functioning. For example, Reiki masters believe that lack of trust and
self-acceptance may result in heart problems. Rigidity in our
outlook makes the body stiff and may case joint pains, and feelings of
insecurity about the future tend to lead to trouble with the lower back, and
so forth.
Now, all life forms have their own
intelligence, akin to this universal life energy flowing through our body.
This intelligence forms the basis of functioning of all aspects of our body.
be it the digestive system, the neutral connections, or the hormone
system. We don't govern our body, the intelligence does. The interesting
thing is that this intelligence spread across our body can not tell the
difference between an actual situation and thought. Thoughts are treated by
the body-mind as real and they bring about the same changes in the body-mind
as an actual physical event. Thus, a genuine threatening situation or
drifting fearful thoughts - both have the same "fight or flight" response in
the body. Similarly, eating our favorite dish, or thinking about it,
triggers the same salivating response . Further; emotions have the ability
to truly engage the body-mind well. So, when these thoughts are
combined with strong emotions, they have a deeper and stronger impact on the
body-mind. This insight not only allows us to better understanding how our
thoughts and emotions impact us, but also offers potential leads on how they
can be helpful in healing ourselves and others.
HEALING OURSELVES:
Healing ourselves requires us to be better aligned to our inner
intelligence, which in turn can create smoother flow of the
universal life
energy through us. For this, we need to be aware of our thoughts and
feelings at all times. We need to recognize that every time we are angry or
anxious, not only is there a psychological impact on us but also a physical
cost attached with it. Now this is not about controlling our thoughts and
emotions ; but about becoming aware of them at all times. When we are
conscious of our thoughts, we are able to notice our negative thoughts
(worry, anger, fear as soon as they arise and are then better able to put
them aside. In this manner they lose their ability to impact our body-mind
in any significant way. Simultaneously, when we notice positive thoughts
(optimism, compassion, courage) and build on them without any attachment to
the results, they lead to healthier bodies. When these positive thoughts
are supported by like wise emotions, they further strengthen the positive
influence. That is how the "law of attraction" and visualization
techniques work so well. When we visualize ourselves to be healthy, abundant
calm and joyous, the neuropathies carry those thoughts (as if they are
real) and make our body begin to feel and act that way. These techniques can
be very effective in imagining and then creating a better future; they are
actively used even by athletes to actualize their potential in a race or
game. - by visualizing a 100-metre dash or a perfect golf shot, several
times in their minds, before the actual event.
HEALING OTHERS:
We can use these insights even towards healing others. The body-mind
intelligence present throughout our bodies is also connected to the
universal intelligence that runs the universe. That also highlights how, in
some way, we are all interconnected through this all pervading intelligence.
Through techniques like visualization and reiki, supportive thoughts coupled
with deep genuine emotions, sent out to the universal intelligence, manifest
in reality in other physical spaces even at geographically distant
locations. Bringing awareness to a body part or another person's illness
galvanizes the intelligence to consciously address it. This is almost like
radio waves traveling across long distances without losing the coded signal.
In the true sense, this process is not about literally healing others; it is
about being present and becoming conduit of this universal energy /
intelligence for willing recipients, who heal themselves. Needless to add,
for us to be in a position to help others, we need to first be in
sync with nature and its intelligence. For us to be able to tap into
universal intelligence, it has to be deeply connected and freely flowing
through us. This requires us to continuously work on healing ourselves
physically (body), emotionally (feelings), mentally (thoughts) and
spiritually (inner faith).
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