THE IGNORANT BRAIN
Our brain does not know if something is real or imagined. The reason for this is everything in life, including what we experience is illusion. They have no absolute truth. What we see are things that are perceived by the brain through the five senses. When signals go in a certain rhythm to the brain, the brain interprets these signals and produces an image. An image, in whatever form is an image. Therefore there is no difference between a so-called image that you perceive as physically visible and an image that is imaginary. The word ‘imaginary’ is derived from image. So, where the brain is concerned, an image is the culmination of certain electrical energy frequencies sent through the central nervous system.
If we can accept this as fundamentally true, then what the brain can imagine is limitless and infinite. This power of the brain can be used to lead a life rich in abundance. If we can continuously imagine abundance feelings, then the brain will naturally assume that you are abundant and generate energy frequencies that match an abundant person.
Now, most people, who come across this amazing discovery will want to be rich. Their primary objective in life is material abundance. Most of the people in this world erroneously think that all their problems can be solved by having more and more money. But anybody who has great material wealth will tell you that they are not satisfied and not happy. More money, more material possessions, partners, business empires or anything that is form-based will not bring happiness. The reason is all these are wants of the ego. And what is the ego? Ego is the mind. Ego is something that can never be satisfied with anything. It always wants more, more, more.
Now we come to the important aspect of What constitutes Happiness?
Happiness is not wealth. Happiness is not money. Happiness is not luxury living. Happiness is not top job. Happiness is not luxury car. Happiness is not 'loving partner'. Happiness is not position. Happiness is not ... anything that has form. Everything that is material and thought based are forms and these cannot give you happiness.
Hapiness is the absence of thought!
When the mind stops, when all thinking ceases, what remains? It is that which cannot be named. It is Joy. It is the peace of God. It is heaven. It is Nirvana. It is the liberation from from. It is the end of suffering!
Now coming back to our topic on the Brain, I mentioned that the brain cannot distinguish between reality and imagination. The brain can only interpret electrical signals and is not aware, because the brain has no self to be aware, whether what it perceives is real or unreal.
But, the brain has unlimited capacity to perceive and trigger the human mind and the body towards any kind of action. If the brain is given thoughts of lack, fear, frustration and unhappiness, those are what the brain will perceive and shape the mind and body. Therefore it is no wonder people are eternally unhappy and suffering, because they continue to bombard their brains with thoughts of unhappiness and suffering.
If, however, if you can bombard your brain with signals of stillness, joy and serenety, what will happen? Of course, the brain will perceive them to be true and your body and mind in turn will become still, joyfull and serene.
So if you want to be happy, you need to be still, so that the brain will have no time to perceive anything other than stillness. How can you become still?
It is the most simple thing you can do. Just be aware! The secret to happiness lies in the present moment only, because only the present moment is real. The so-called past and future are just illusions and has no reality whatsoever other than some imaginery concepts. What is real is only this very moment. If we can be intensely alert in this moment, if we can be fully aware of what is going on around us at this moment, all thinking stops. Thinking and present moment awareness cannot coexist.
Present moment awareness is Pure Consciousness. The moment you are not conscious of the present moment, you are "Unconscious". You can visit past and future only when you are unconscious. Did I scare you by saying that you are Unconscious? But look deep within and you will find the answer.
To find true happiness, you need to send the correct signal to the brain. That can only be done by being in the present moment. When you are still and present, there is great, unfathomable joy. This joyful signal will be interpreted by the brain as real and your body and mind will transform into an enlightened state.
Remember, brain is an instrument which can be used or misused. What signals do you want your brain to receive continuously? Signals of joy or signals of suffering?
NIMAL BRINSLEY FONSEKA (27 November 2008)