“In Asian languages, the word for ‘mind’ and the word for ‘heart’ are the same. So, if you’re not hearing mindfulness in some deep way as heartfulness, you’re not really understanding it. Compassion and kindness towards oneself are intrinsically woven into it. You could think of mindfulness as wise and affectionate attention.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Since ancient times, the word for heart 心 in Mandarin, pronounced xin (sh-een), has meant “will.” It is often translated as “heart-mind,” “heart, mind” or simply as “mind.”
It’s awkward to recombine two terms that aren’t separated originally. Heart and mind being one word is true not just in Asian languages, but in most non-European languages. But why is there a confusion to begin with? Why is there a separation between ‘mind’ and ‘heart’ in English?
The ancient Greeks believed that the mind was located in the head. Plato argued that the head should rule the heart. About 400 years ago, Europeans started to elevate Reason and Thought above the feelings of the body. Descartes, the father of Reason, believed thought was not part of the body at all, but instead, a completely non-material abstract force. In Western culture, this elevates the mind from the most important part of the body to something beyond the body itself.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the heart was still considered vital to the thinking process. The heart has long been used to describe “matters of the heart,” or emotional states. And despite Reason officially changing this perception, we still use the heart in this way: “follow your heart,” “heavy heart,” and my “heart melts,” for example.
We can challenge the biases we may have and see thinking as part of the body again. This can help us be more mindful. Mindfulness asks us to be aware of the emotions behind our thinking, but it is not “heart vs. mind.” It is about seeing our whole body, and our feelings, as part of the process of understanding ourselves.
4 steps to practicing mindfulness more heartfully
Stop trying ‘not to think,’ start trying to ‘feel more’
Mindfulness is a type of reason, but it’s very different from Western reason and rationality. Instead of trying to control our emotions, we accept and work with them. The goal isn’t to stop thinking, but to feel more. The Dalai Lama says he can feel his thoughts before they come.
Next time you are meditating or building your mindfulness practice, and you can’t stop thinking, feel the right side of your head. The right side of your head is close to the part of your brain that helps regulate emotions, and just body-scanning that part should help you calm down. Very quickly, one can feel their thoughts before they happen, just like the Dalai Lama.
Recognize meditation as rest
The Chinese word for meditation is 打坐 (da zuo), literally meaning to “hit a sit.” It just means to have a big, long sit-down. It is resting. “Meditation” is often a word we imbue with extra meaning. No translation is perfect, and when we understand the idea more directly, and in simpler language, we can make more sense of it.
There is some irony. Descartes’s thesis on reason was actually called Meditations, although clearly, he was talking about something else than what we are here.
Love yourself
Loving ourselves works better than being tough on ourselves. Most of us tend to beat ourselves up, and when it’s about something serious, we can feel guilty for not doing it. But this is counterproductive.
When we encounter difficult emotions in our practice, we can instead try to understand why we have those feelings. Rationality has taught us to “spare the rod and spoil the child,” even with ourselves, but a heartful and mindful practice encourages the opposite.
Love others
A 2013 study found that having more and better relationships helps prevent depression. This adds to a large body of research suggesting that relationship quality has a huge impact on all aspects of health.
Good relationships are based on mutual respect. Mindfulness can help us create better relationships and improve the ones we already have. It can help us know our boundaries and respect others. So much of the stress we are trying to reduce comes from fear, and when we feel supported by others, we are less afraid.
Being afraid might be something you feel in your stomach, shoulders or kidneys. Feel where that is coming from, in yourself and in others, to better navigate social situations.
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