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On Earth, man occupies a peculiar position that sets him apart from all other entities in our planet. While all the otherthings ' animate or inanimate, living or non-living ' behaveaccording to regular patterns to balance nature, man seems toenjoy ' within definite limits ' a small amount of freedom. Mancontrols his way of living, speaks his own language, perceivesand learns great amount of knowledge, manages his emotions, anddeals properly with problems he faces. All of which is unique toman only. There is, in fact, within the infinite expanse of theuniverse a small field in which man's conscious conduct canchange the course of events.

It is this fact that causes man to distinguish between anexternal world subject to unstoppable and endless necessity, andhis human faculty of thinking, cognising, and acting. InPhilosophy, mind or reason is contrasted with matter, somethingthat is extended in space and persists through time. Fully awareof the fact that his own body is subject to the same forces thatdetermine all other things and beings, man attributes hisability to think, to will and to act to an invisible andintangible, yet powerful, factor he calls his mind.

The mind, including the processes it carries out such asthinking, learning, memorizing, remembering, and the likes, isone characteristic that distinguishes man from any other beingin the world. The nature of the human mind is like that of amirror; having different functions and features: (a) open andvast, (b) reflects in full and precise details, (c) unbiasedtowards any impression, (d) distinguishes clearly, and (e)potential for having everything already accomplished.

Open and Vast

Martin H. Fischer (1879-1962), a German-born U.S. physician andauthor, quoted 'All the world is a laboratory to the inquiringmind.' Isn't it ironic how small the human brain where mindprocesses undergo is, and yet it encloses matters in as huge asthe universe? That's how open and vast the mind can be. It canconsist of things as trivial as the number of moles you have inyour body, or as essential as how many dosages of cough syrupyou need to take in when you are sick. It can create illusion orreality, bring delight or sadness, trigger conflict or peace, andgenerate love or hatred. And most importantly, it can make you,by influencing you how to be the best of who you are, or breakyou, by covering you with all the fears, embarrassment, andshame you least need in going through everyday.

The exposure of the mind to practically 'anything under the sun'keeps it from hiding any secrets the world unfolds from us. Butagain, all information that we can easily gather from outside isnot always being marked off by the society ' which is good andwhich is bad, which is right and which is wrong, or which isdivine and which is evil. Therefore, the mind, as anall-encompassing system, accesses everything and yet restrictsus from nothing.

Indeed, we have to agree with Fischer that the world is just alaboratory of the inquiring mind. A gigantic world of mindexists to which we are almost totally unexposed. This wholeworld is made by the mind. Our minds made this up and put thesethings together. Every bolt and nut was put in by one after theother's mind. This whole world is mind's world ' the product ofmind.

Reflects in Full and Precise DetailsIn her outstanding book, Choose the Happiness Habit, Pam Goldenwrites: "Take the story of two brothers who are twins. Onegrows up to be an alcoholic bum. The other becomes an extremelysuccessful businessman. When the alcoholic is asked why hebecame a drunk, he replies, 'My father was a drunk.' When thesuccessful businessman is asked why he became successful, hesays, 'My father was a drunk.' Same background.Same upbringing. Different choices."

The brothers chose different thoughts regarding the identicalexperience they've been in. One took the fact that their fatherwas a drunk as an example for him to imitate; thus, making himone too. In contrast, the other brother thought the same idea assomething not to be mimicked, making him doing the opposite thinguntil he became successful. Those thoughts over the years shapedthe circumstances where they are now. Whatever viewpoint theyhad about the situation was reflected on how they are doing now.

In other words, whatever there is in our mind can be fully andprecisely reflected through our actions. It is due to theprocess where thinking creates images in our mind. These images,in turn, will control feelings like joy or sadness. Such feelingswill cause us to do actions on how we would deal with each one ofthem. And lastly, these actions shall create results. Therefore,the mind, particularly thinking, implies reflection and creationof results. This is simplified through the very common clich'You are what you think of.'

Aziz Meknassi