We know we possess a body. That’s obvious. All we need to do is look in a mirror or at a part of our body, like an arm, to realize this. We also know we have a mind, which, again, is obvious since we have thoughts, make decisions, are willful, and so forth. One of the great mysteries throughout all of time, however, is how mind and body interact? One theory is a unity of mind and body. If there is a unity, then there really isn’t a separate mind and body.
We know the two must connect simply because our thoughts influence our bodies and vice versa. For example, if you think you want to move your arm, the movement follows; or if you have pain somewhere in your body, anxiety or thoughts follow.
The mystery of how this connection occurs has stumped philosophers, scientists, and psychologists for centuries. Today, neuroscientists discuss the brain as the source of mind, but for centuries and at present, the unity of mind and body has also been discussed. So, a solution will not be presented here, but this doesn’t prevent us from exploring the possibility of a unity.
Unity means that body and mind work in unison, together, without us even knowing anything about the functioning unity. In other words, we are not conscious (aware) of the unity of mind and body.
So, if a unity exists, why are we unconscious (unaware) of it? Believe it or not, the answer returns us to consciousness. Throughout time, human consciousness has changed and developed. Each change had several functions. One major function was/is to separate things from each other. This means that you see me, and I see you, as a separate and unique person. It means you experience the table on which you eat as separate from you or any other object. Just imagine the difficulties if we weren’t conscious enough to experience ourselves as separate from objects and each other. It’s due to consciousness that we consider mind separate from body.
So, why is it important to understand this unity? Well, for at least two reasons: to realize how important it is to be conscious and yet, to realize that there is much more to human nature than we can see and know (a unity). Saying that seems to reinforce the mystery, but the more we discover who we are, the more the mystery is revealed. So, maybe if you think your body is separate from your mind, you can pause and think again.
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