Your Mind is a River

This summer I have been fortunate enough to work at a Marina on the water and take some time for healing and reflection.. and I’ve noticed through observation, the similarities between operating our minds and boating on the river.

I’ve contemplated the goals of my practice and realized that despite dedicating 10 years to my Kundalini Yoga practice, I seem to have made little progress in ceasing the fluctuations of my mind.. and then it hit me: my mind is like the river.. subject to the tides, current and wind.

In order to manage our minds and gain control over our brain that runs largely on auto pilot, we must consider the emotions, like the tide that controls the rising and falling of our depth.. the wind, like our thoughts that direct, and the current, like the power of our will that also directs our course. While all of these elements and functions serve a purpose, it’s imperative that we understand their influence and how they govern our attitudes, decisions, and actions in our lives.

In Kundalini Yoga, the three functional minds are represented by the positive (expansive) mind, the negative (protective) mind and the neutral (observing) mind. The neutral mind is what we aim to cultivate in most meditation and mindfulness practices.

Some of us may know that sheer will , like the current, can only take us so far..the current can give us momentum and speed, but lacks the discernment needed to course correct when needed.

Learning the three functional minds and the role they play in our daily lives gives us the clarity we need to chart our course and gracefully navigate through changing conditions.

The Three Functional Minds

The negative (protective) mind scans the terrain for potential threats. It’s primary purpose is to protect and ensure survival. This is the function that will tell you to stay moored amidst swells and threatening clouds.

The neutral mind gathers the input from the positive (expansive) mind and the negative (protective) mind to discern what is most relevant to your highest self.. or your soul so that you may correct course when needed.

The positive (expansive) mind is expansive, exploratory and fulfillment seeking. This function gives you the wind in your sails. It’s the quality of charisma, positivity, enthusiasm.

“The body follows the mind and the mind follows the breath.” Yogi Bhajan

To learn more about the 10 bodies in Kundalini Yoga visit https://www.3ho.org/article/the-mind/