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If I wish I could move my finger and if do not wish, I could bend it. This nervous system is controlled by the mind.
The involuntary nervous system acts on its own. Mind does not have control over it. It can never happen that the mind can tell the heart whether to beat or not. Other than for those who are highly adept in meditation, the heart beat is not within the control of the mind. Under special conditions of meditations one could win control over the entire nervous system, but this is very special, not an ordinary occurrence. The ordinary occurrence is that blood flows at its own self decided pace and the heart too beats at its own will. The heart pumps out the blood. The lungs purify it. All the autonomous nerves work of their own will. The control of the mind does not operate on them either.
In our body both systems operate: one, of control and one, of no control. We exercise control over children. Every minute they have to be attended to. But when they turn 18-20 years of age, the control changes, it does not seem to be required in the same manner as before.
Control and the lack of it are both relative. Even
Anekanta: The Third Eye
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