Mind Over Matter - Really?

I often come across idealist statements that express the idea
that "My mind creates the World."

"What is mind? No matter.
What is matter? Never mind."
-George Berkeley

"We are mind and matter, but it’s the mind that matters,
more than matter, as "mind over matter",
whether you mind it or not.
So mind your mind."
-Stonepeace

There is value to minding our mind, observing the processes of our minds, controlling and directing our minds, uplifting our minds, and expanding our minds. I have no doubts about the powers of introspection, self-reflection, meditation, and inner insight in examining the nature of my consciousness.

Neverthe less, I'm of the opinion that my mind really depends on all other minds to give meaning and purpose to our lives, and in the critical importance of intersubjective verification and the value of repeatable public measurement in the sciences. Also, I believe that the bio-chemical activities of cells in my body create the various phenomena of my consciousness, and that my conscious mental life (i.e., thinking, will, choice, acting, etc.) can change the bio-chemical states of my body - creating a feedback loop from both sides of the mind-body equation.

It is both the World (i.e., cells, body, home, work, land, sun, food, etc.) and your own mental states that creates your every-changing mind:

It's our minds that think we create our worlds.
It's our minds that can imagine other worlds.
It's our minds that can believe in falsehoods and the impossible.
It's our minds that tell stories of the past.
Take away all the other minds and your mind won't last for long.
Millions of minds have disappeared into the World.


With respect to mind-body practices (i.e., yoga, taijiquan, qigong, dance) is the idea that mind alone can create extraordinary and magical powers in the body. A number of taiji players speak of special chi powers. For example, a 260 pound strong man attacks you, a 130 pound 60 year old man, with intent to cause you harm; you relax, summon mind intent, direct chi, use your "Taiji Super-Powers," and toss the surprised attacker 10 feet away from you. Or, yogis sometimes speak of gaining special powers, siddhis, that allow the super yogi to hold his breath for days, heal the seriously sick, walk 90 miles in a day, or float above the earth. I believe that nearly all of these tales of special powers are nonsense, poppycock, laughable, fictions of guru/hero worship, or a magician's tricks.

Physics tells us that force/energy is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. The faster and larger person can generate more force. Techniques of delivering the force - angle, timing, surprise, etc., also effect the impact of the forces. Also, in fighting situations, the muscular strength of the fighter, the toughness of the fighter, the experience of the fighter, the determination of the fighter, the fighters will to hurt another, and the fighters will to over-power and control all effect the outcome. Therefore, if you want "Taiji Super-Powers" you need to practice diligently, spar often, get serious about strength training, get into superior aerobic condtion, really toughen up, work on your balance, improve your speed, and develop a Warrior's Mind.

It is both mind and matter, both yin and yang, both the whole and the parts.

Mind over matter? Occasionally, when there is enough of your matter actively applied by your will to act.