The Mind/Body Connection

The mind-body connection is not thought of as just being singular in nature but a series of different understandings and viewpoints of the mind.  Physicalists have viewed the connection as consciousness and nothing more than an activity of the brain, while on the other hand, duelists view it as a manifestation of itself, a nonphysical mental phenomenon.  Either of these viewpoints constitutes deep philosophical complications.  Most ancient civilizations believed in the attributes of a) character, and b) body soul, both enabling individuals to act and achieve not only consciousness but also, in certain traditions, a differentiation of soul and mind. 

 In the Buddhist tradition for example there is a separation of the spirit realm, (human consciousness), from the material realm, (science).  Here, the theoretical framework for understanding the mind is brought into context through the “nine consciousnesses.”  The sensory inputs of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste comprise the first five levels, as the sixth, comprising the conscious mind conjoined, integrates them into comprehensive images and judgments. 

How information is received and explained is governed by and forcefully influence by the remaining three levels.  The seventh level is responsible for self-identity and the capacity to distinguish oneself from other individuals.  The nature of one’s being which is continuously present, lasting across the entire life cycle is the domain of the eighth level.  The ninth level of consciousness is thought to be pure life force.  It is considered the deepest of inner self, of supreme value, and the power to live by.

Today, the application of the mind/body connection contributes to psychological outcomes through regular physical activity and exercise in older adults.  Mind body interventions (MBI) involve meditative movements in supervised group training sessions that are able to provide psychosocial benefits to individuals and can easily be adjusted to an individual’s performance level.  It is believed that the multifactorial meditative approach has fundamentally affected health via the interactions of the physical, mental, social, and behavioral elements.  So, in the end, our mind-body connections can be thought of as more than just simple brain activity or nonphysical mental phenomenon.  Those who seek different understandings and viewpoints of conscious connections can continue to develop their pure life force across an entire lifetime. — FB

References

MA Yue, & CUI Weicheng. (2021). A comprehensive overview on various mind-body models. Philosophy Study, 11(11). https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5313/2021.11.002

Weber, M., Schnorr, T., Morat, M., Morat, T., & Donath, L. (2020). Effects of mind–body interventions involving meditative movements on quality of life, depressive symptoms, fear of falling and sleep quality in older adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6556. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186556