The Hidden Weight of Images

3 months ago By Yogi Anoop

Does the image created in the mind have weight? And can it be harmful to the brain?

Disciple: Guruji, can mental images, emotions, imaginations, and thoughts have weight? It sounds a bit strange, but I would like to know your perspective.

Yogi Anoop: This question, as simple as it seems, is not so. It indicates a deeper understanding. From a scientific and practical perspective, elements and matter that take shape, color, and form inherently possess weight and mass to some extent. From a yogic perspective too, the four elements—earth, water, air, and fire—have weight in some way. From my personal experience, space, that is, the void, does not have weight. However, by belief, it is accepted as an element. It is the form that encapsulates the void.

Here, the question is not about the weight of external elements but rather the weight of the images created in the mind. Scientifically and practically, this does not appear true. However, when viewed from a spiritual perspective, it is experienced that the images created in the mind, though immeasurable, possess weight similar to physical elements.

In dreams, the weight of a load lifted above the head feels real. One becomes drenched in sweat while dreaming, and when someone throws a stone in a dream, the person wakes up in fear. The brain fully reacts to it. The heartbeat accelerates. It is true that the stone’s impact is not physically visible.

The essence is that the creation of an image in the mind means it has form, color, and shape. The creation of shape means it has begun occupying space within the brain. Just as an object occupies space, similarly, an image created by the mind occupies space in the brain and in memory.

By occupying that space, pressure and expansion begin to occur in the smallest cells of the brain. Even the brain’s nervous system, neurons, hormones, and muscles begin to experience pressure and expansion. If that shape had no weight, there would be no pressure or expansion in the nervous system. Conversely, if no image of any kind were created in the mind, the process of occupying space in the brain would not be possible. This further establishes that no reaction would occur in the brain and body.

Note that this proves if the images created in the mind had no weight, they would not exert pressure on the brain and body. From my spiritual perspective, it is established that mental images possess weight. However, scientifically, it is not proven as there are no standards to measure these images.

Disciple: So, can this intangible and perceived weight cause harm?

Yogi Anoop: Try to understand this a bit more deeply. The weight of the shape of an image created by the mind inside the brain depends on the emotions behind that image. For example, the physical weight of a painting hung on a wall is very minimal—some wood, glass, and the piece of paper upon which the image is painted.

However, when the observer transforms that image within their own mind, they generate emotions through that image. If the mind only transforms the image, it will occupy space in the brain. However, if negative emotions are infused into that image, then the brain’s neural system has to endure the weight of that image’s shape. Conversely, if positive emotions are infused into that image, the neural system will also bear a corresponding pressure. It is also true that infusing positive emotions into the shape of an image feels comparatively less burdensome than negative emotions.

The noteworthy point here is that the more impactful the emotions and meanings in the shape of the image, the more pressure the brain’s subtle nerves will have to endure, which will also adversely affect chemical processes. It entirely depends on how impactful the meanings and emotions hidden within the image created by the mind are.

An example can further clarify this. If the painting hung on the wall depicts Lord Ram, it carries pure emotions. If it depicts Ravan, it carries entirely different emotions. The physical weight of the painting remains the same—wood, glass, paper, and various blended colors. It is merely a small piece. However, this small piece carries emotions, meanings, etc., which add weight that impacts the brain’s nervous system.

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