The Mind-Body connection

Brain Vs. Mind

Health is not the mere absence of disease. It is the state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being. The western philosophy is generally in favour of emergency attendance to our problems while the eastern approach is towards holistic health maintenance.

Well, we know about the western approach totally as we are already submerged into it. Whenever we pick up some disease, we immediately rush to medical professionals, undergo the needed tests and opt for medication and surgery to immediately restore our health. Thus we in a way have lost touch with eastern approaches.

According to eastern philosophy, every human being is composed of four elements. They are brain, body, mind and soul. Of these four, people concentrate on the first two, the brain and the body.

Parents send their children to schools and colleges to develop their brain. Children in their younger days lend their brain for learning.

But once they attain puberty, their attention gets diverted to their body. Human body consists of many organs, both external and internal. Of the external organs, the most important ones are the sensory organs. The source of our problems is our sensory organs. In any human activity, their sensory organs and their needs appear to dominate. People everywhere are seen stuck to the needs of their sensory organs. Our sensory organs always focus on what is not necessary for us. And that is where the source of human problems lie. In attendance to their body, many people even tend to neglect their brain development.

Thus the brain and body appear to dominate people’s lives these days. This priority given to meeting the needs of brain and body, have eclipsed the importance of our mind and soul. With the prominence given to these, there is no mention of mind and soul in the modern education system. With focus only on two out of four, people have remained only half human beings. This has accounted for loss of balance in human beings.

We all have four sides to look at, viz. outward, inward, downward and upward. Brain looks outward. Sensory organs look downward. Mind is meant to look inward. And our soul is meant to help us look upward. With little awareness on mind and soul, people have difficulty in looking either inward or upward. Unless we are able to look inward and upward, there is no scope for human development. Hence there is need for mind and soul education. Even if we leave aside looking upward, looking inward is very crucial for our leading purposeful and happy life.

All human desires first arise inside our minds. When the mind comes up with a desire, the brain starts thinking as to how to attain it. The brain plans as to how to achieve, when to achieve, where to achieve and what to do for the same. Thus brain is our organ for planning the strategies.. After due planning, it gives orders to the body for executing the plans.

Thus in the system, our mind is the starting point. Where the mind does not desire anything, the brain and the body remain inactive. Unless the mind comes out with a desire, there is no effort from our brain or the body.

The Mind King

Human structuring has been conceived on the lines of a kingdom. Between mind, brain and the body organs, mind is the king, the brain is the minister and the organs are the army. The king conceives, the minister plans and the army executes. But in many people, the army had staged a coup and taken over the kingdom. They have arrested the king and the minister and made them work for them.

There are so many forces of energy in this world such as wind, heat, electricity, gravitation, etc. What is common in these energy sources is that they are all invisible. God has kept all the energy sources as invisible. Human mind is one such energy source and it is also invisible. To understand what is invisible, we need special education.

The mind being the king and the conceiver, everything that happens to us first starts from our minds. And then it is taken over by our brain and passed on to our body to behave in a directed manner. Thus any disturbance to the mind is also taken over by our brain and passed on to our body. No minister can remain unaffected by the disturbance caused to the king. Thus it can be said that any disturbance to the mind also affects the Body as mind and body are inseparable. Thus all disturbances to our mind get translated into our body symptoms. For example

Role of Mind in your health


Habitual anger = Ulcer
Emotional frustrations = Digestion disorders
Over sensitivity = Higher blood pressure
Tension = Migraine
Feelings of insecurity = Sleeplessness, Constipation
Chronic unhappiness = Multiple aches, Indigestion

Meaning of illness

Thus all the visible aspects of our illness correspond to our mental state. Diseases thus simply mean that we need to reintegrate our lives with the human spirit, i.e. with life of truth, patience and love.

Some of the illnesses and their meanings are given here under. They can help us to understand the illness­es and to take the needed corrective action.

Anemia
Lack of joy in your life. Approach life dynamically. Make use of your energy. Open up yourself

Appetite loss
You are only half alive. Increase your inner capacity to live with things as they come. Relax.

Arthritis
You are inwardly rigid and stubborn. You have bitterness, resentment. If only you turn loving, friendly and understanding you will feel free both internally and externally. If you do not change yourself, you will be promoted to arthrosis. Dance in life and your problems are gone.

Asthma
You long for love and recognition. Your anger presently prevent you from giving love. Give love, you will receive love. Breathe freely. Give love and get love and recognition.

Back complaint
You are overburdened. You feel you don’t get emotional support from people near and dear. So, you too hold back love and affection. You have possibly also have financial and other worries and fear of future.

Bad breath
Your breath corresponds to the thoughts you carry around. Something you think is unpleasant. Take a good look at the kind of thoughts you are preoccupied with. Let friendliness and honesty prevail within you.

BP - high
You are living under some conflict and pressure. You have not expressed your thoughts and emotions for a long time. Learn to let them go. Face problems with calmness.

BP - low
You are trying to avoid problems due to lack vital energy and stamina. You find it difficult to assert yourself. Be active and feel strong.

Chest pains
Something is clogging your chest. What is it? Separation? Striving for power? Some fear is lurking? Enjoy the beauty of life and feel close to people.

Constipation
You are holding on to things. It could be your money, property, materials or old ideas. Practise detachment. Leave outlived ideas. Do not repress feelings. Feel internally comfortable.

Cramps.
Presence of inner tension. Let life flow.

Diabetes
You have some longings. You are not able to be sweet and so you cannot take sweets. I mean, you are lacking in sweetness of life. Let go of the past. Love, fun and games are basic needs of life. Give them to others and they will give them to you.

Glaucoma
You have much to cry but you are avoiding. The unreleased tears are creating pressure inside your eye.

Head ache
Indication of tension and conflict. Existence of ambitions and external demands. You are living your head too much. Sexual problems could also be a cause. Do not suppress emotions. Relax and create space for peace, love and joy.

Heart problems
Are you a heartless person? Hard hearted? Half hearted? Do you believe life is a fight for survival? Do you believe that life is not worth living? Then you had it. Learn to live with your heart and shed emotional problems. Believe in joyful living.

Heart attack
Only a hard heart can break. You are one who attacks the heart of others. Your anger and annoyance have now turned back on you with full force. Open up your heart. Love people.

Insomnia
You have not ended your day properly. You are carrying over your unfinished tasks to your bed. You feel incomplete. You have anxieties and worry. Feel at peace. End your day well. Have peace of mind. Do not worry.

Pimples
You are suppressing something out of fear, insecurity or shame. Or you as teenager are suppressing your sexuality. They are breaking out and getting visible.

Ulcer Deodenal
Your aggressions, tension, fear, anxiety and pressure are longstanding. They are eating you up. Beware.

Ulcer gastric
You are unable to vent your feelings and aggression and allowing them to turn on yourself. You are engaging in self destruction. You are yearning for motherly warmth and protection and you desire to be loved and cared for. Consciously digest things you don’t like and avoid conflicts.

The lesson:
Emotionally ill, cannot be cured through pill

Our body is the largest pharmaceutical industry in the world and has the capacity to produce each and every drug we need. The raw material needed for production of these chemicals are right food and right thoughts. If your thought is peace and love, you produce positive chemicals and if your thought is anger, you produce negative chemicals. When you produce negative chemicals, you incur disease.

We generally strive to be healthy, in order to be happy;
But we should strive to be happy, in order to be healthy !!