The Balance of Mind and Body : หน้า 104/115

* What is a mind without a body? A ghost. * What is a body without a mind? A corpse. * The mind and body must function in good balance and harmony. - A body with healthy mind = intelligent, alert, mindful, righteous, wise - A body with unhealthy mind = unintelligent, unknowing, wrongful, unwise We take care of our bodies every day (feeding, cleansing, exercising, resting). How often do we take care of our minds? When an engine is left running continuously, how long can it last? Our minds work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How long can the mind stay healthy without proper maintenance and rest? * It is believed that a person only utilizes 10% of his/her mental capacity. Even at this minimal usage rate, the mind works wonders. Imagine, if we could utilize more than 10%! * Through the process of proper meditation it is believed that one can tap into the unused portion of the mind and put more of its “power” to work. There are numerous stories about meditation masters who possess extraordinary mind power (ability to read another person’s mind, see into the past or future, voyage into other realms, etc.). These stories have been documented throughout time. * Meditation also helps a person attain proper insight and awareness. It is this insight that leads to spiritual wisdom, enabling a person to understand the “truth of nature”, the purpose of one’s life, the means to avoid suffering, and the path to reach the ultimate happiness, nirvana. II. THE NATURE OF THE MIND The human mind is the most complex and sophisticated entity. The function of the mind is “to see, to remember, to think and to know”. We must not confuse the “mind” with the “brain”. They are two different entities. The brain has a solid physical form of flesh and blood and is located inside the skull. Although not visible to the human eye, the mind also has a form, but an intangible one, much like electricity or magnetivity. The sanctuary of the mind is in the center of our body. When the mind is at the center of a person’s body it is in a state of void. It is free of all thoughts and sheltered from “mental impurities”. However, the mind has a tendency to wander constantly. It jumps quickly from one thought to another. This is when it loses concentration or mindfulness. Meditation helps keep the mind from wandering. * A perfect mind is free of any mental contaminants or impurities. Mental contaminants consist of ill will, evil thoughts and defilements (greed, anger, delusion).