N. S. NAGARAJA takes us beyond thought into the realm of feeling, and onwards to a state of higher consciousness.
The “Cogito ergo sum” idea of René Descartes is widely accepted as a way to prove that I-awareness exists independent of sense organs. According to Descartes, thinking proves that the thinker exists.
Mind, body and senses are bound together somewhat tightly. Senses influence the mind and the mind influences the senses. Our existence is linked to mind. The state of mind and the thoughts we have often dictate our actions. We could even say that our state of mind defines us (well, most of the time).
It is possible, with effort, to alter and improve our state of mind. The art of Mindfulness teaches us that we can influence our quality of life by achieving a better state of mind through meditation. What is this better state of mind? It is a mind mindful of its business! It is an active observer of its thoughts without judgment. Essentially, it is a mind that does not react to every input from inside or outside of itself, but watches without judgment and chooses to act wisely. That is Mindfulness.
Beyond mind, what do we know? We all know ‘feeling’,
an experience or condition related to our heart.
Heart has the strongest presence in us, even in terms of its electrical field.
Now a question arises. Is the mind just a thought machine, constructing and deconstructing thoughts? From where does this mind manifest? Is the mind truly independent? Is there anything beyond mind? Is mind a continuum and are we seeing only a part of it?
Well there are more questions than answers in this little article. Welcome to the contemplative life!
Beyond mind, what do we know? We all know ‘feeling’, an experience or condition related to our heart. Heart has the strongest presence in us, even in terms of its electrical field. Heart influences every part of our body and mind too. Heart is considered as the source of wisdom, courage and feelings. It is a storehouse of impressions that we have gathered from the external environment, and from our own thoughts and actions. These impressions have masked our true or original nature. Mind is influenced by the content of heart.
Robert Gerzon says, “Examining our life reveals patterns of behaviour. Deeper contemplation yields understanding of the subconscious programming, the powerful mental software that runs our life. Unless we become aware of these patterns, much of our life is unconscious repetition.”
Is it possible to remove this deep programming and bring forth the true original and pure nature of our own Self?
When our inside and outside reflect the original nature of Self, then we have achieved a state of being which is closer to higher consciousness. Living life from this purer state of being is Heartfulness.
Article by N.S. NAGARAJA
