What Does the Nervous System Need?

Most of us are conditioned by the teachings we receive from our elders to believe that our thoughts and feelings originate in nothing other than the mind: the ego, the personality structure, the thing we think of as special and unique. And it is special and unique. But we don't realize that the true origin of our thoughts and feelings is the nervous system, with its incredible ability to perceive what is happening inside the body, while the body perceives much of what is happening in the outside world.

The nervous system communicates within the body and with the world around it. It detects weather, temperature, and moisture. It registers pleasant smells, beautiful sights, lovely sounds, and good sensations on the skin. The nervous system is in charge of all of that, not the ego or the thinking mind. The mind is only reacting to the stimuli.

When we understand this, the mission of life becomes a little easier. We start using the mind to think about what the nervous system needs, not what the mind wants or what our attachments demand.

So what does the nervous system need?

If your answer is a $50 million a month apartment, 27 Mercedes, 300 diamond rings, and a partridge in a pear tree, take more time to sit quietly, study the mind, and let go of the need for so many things. We will naturally need certain things to get through life, but not so much. Not so much that it dulls our senses, makes us soft, and leaves us less able to make our way through the difficulties of life.

We have to stay somewhat tough.