The mind vs. the brain
Last week Bryana shared an introduction to mindfulness. This week, I’d like to dive a bit deeper into this topic. I’ve been working my way through Deb Adele’s new book, The Kleshas: Exploring the Elusiveness of Happiness. This book is one to consume slowly, as each page gives the reader wisdom to consider.
In the second section of the book, Adele explores The Mind. She writes, “Often when teaching class, I have asked participants what their definition of yoga is. What follows are many beautiful responses like health, freedom, contentment, etc., all of which are true. Never have I heard someone mention the mind in their definition. Yet in chapter 1, verse 2 of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali defines yoga as ‘Complete mastery over the roaming tendencies of the mind’ (Adele, p 76)”
Complete mastery over the roaming tendencies of the mind.
Not a pretzel shaped asana. Not touching our toes. Not moving through sun salutations multiple times each week. Patanjali defines yoga as the complete mastery over the roaming tendencies of the mind. Sounds so simple!
Of course, we know asana, breathwork, the yamas (observiances) & niyamas (restraints), and meditation are all tools that help us move toward this tranquil state of mind.
The goal is to achieve a peaceful, tranquil, state of mind, a project that continues throughout our lifetime! A project that begins anew each day. This is probably why Chapter 1 Verse 1 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is, “and now we begin the practice of yoga.” (And now… and now… and now!)
Pause here. Can you think of a few times you’ve experienced this peaceful state of mind?
It might be much easier to relate to the roaming tendencies of the mind. We all know how the mind likes to drift and wander, tell stories, worry endlessly, and on and on.
We are often too busy worrying about the light bulb that needs replacing, the deck that needs painting, the item we wish we could purchase. We are not thinking that we have the best dog in the world, that we are so lucky to have access to clean drinking water, that our home is safe and warm. We have dozens of mental browser windows open at any given time.
Mind wandering is our default mode. Researchers have found that we spend 50-80% of our time mind wandering.
Adele goes on to ask the reader to consider how we differentiate between our brain and our mind.
What a fascinating question!
The brain is constantly issuing commands to our body through electrical currents and chemical hormones. The brain is home to all the helpful and useless knowledge built up over the course of our lifetime. The brain is tangible- the squishy material inside our skulls.
Where the brain is tangible, the mind is not. So what is the mind? (These are my non-scientific observations.)
The mind is able to observe both the brain and the mind itself. Consider when you notice that your thoughts are wandering off, this is the mind observing itself!
The mind is able to discern when we are slipping into a fight, flight, or freeze response, and can signal us to breathe deeply to help us return to a steady state.
The mind observes when thoughts are wandering off with to-do lists, worries of the future, worries of the past, judgment, comparisons, shame, etc, and can gently redirect the brain.
The mind can disrupt the tendencies of the brain toward negativity, racing thoughts, and autopilot mode.
The mind is a powerful tool. The more we practice awareness of our mind and thoughts, the more skilled we become at using the mind to calm the tendencies of the brain. (Conversely, the more time we spend in our default mode of mind wandering, the more our mind will feel free to drift about).
This is the practice of yoga, and this is the practice of a lifetime.
Challenge for the week:
This week can you take note of differences between your brain and your mind? When the brain starts running off with a to-do list, worries, or other roaming tendencies, practice using your mind to gently redirect the brain. Can you bring your thoughts back to the present moment.
A nice time to focus on this is the first hour and the last hour of your day. Can you protect the peace and ease of your first and last hours of the day? (Not always, but it can be a great practice to try!)
