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The belief that there are energies within the body that can be controlled and converted into physical strength, as well as the idea of meditation and the possibilities of it as well as how it works.

My best friend has a picture on his school folder of a monk in the middle of a courtyard totally consumed by billowing flames, sitting claming in a mediation position as he died. The monk was protesting against something although don’t know what, but it is fascinating that one can achieve such complete control over their mind that they can in fact control their body to the extent that they cant feel pain, that they can cure themselves from illnesses, harden their body and even supposedly detach themselves from their bodies and achieve enlightenment in a state in which the restrictions are taken off the human mind and the subconscious is fully awakened, even the idea that we only use 10 percent of our brains and that meditation could break into that other 90 percent. The idea of the law of attraction and karma, our internal attitudes effecting our external circumstances, the idea of jinxing things etc.

His name was Thich Quang Duc and he was protesting the Vietnam war.

It's amazing that someone could have that much power over their brain to disconnect themselves from pain. He must have been practically dead before they lit him. It must have taken years to master that kind of power.

This is my favorite subject but it seems nobody wants to post in it lol. I guess I'll start the converstation.

Mind over matter invokes questions of free will.

IN my opinion providing I have one, their are only two paths and no reason to argue about it.

1. Free will doesent exist. IF you believe this then thats a bummer. It's kind of sad really. Also if your too much of a panzy to believe in free will then you probably shouldn't have it anyway.

2. If you do believe in free will, then good for you. Now you can reflect on the possibilities of it.

Mind over matter. Supposing we have a mind, we use it to controll our actions, thoughts, words, concepts, beliefs, and so on.

Supposing you had been running for 200 strides per minute for an hour straight. You would be tired( depending on who you are). Your mind controlls your body, so you could will yourself to go faster in theory.

It also invokes question on thinks like acurecy of movements, or speed, the healing process, and other things.

The one I am most interested in is mind over mind. Can I controll my mind with my mind? Could I make myself think faster just like I can make myself run faster. I say yes, supposing that I exist to say it in the first place. Could I increase my mental power of contemplation, could I improve my ability of learnign concepts, and could I finally alter my concepts of reality, time and my beliefs of existence all together, just by thinking it to happen. I should think so.

i think "mind over matter" might be a misnomer. it would seems that the mind , though a great tool, is also a great impediment to achievement. Many people who do not practice philosophy or meditation, who do not consider the mind and its cultivation are hung up by the supposed contents of the mind. these are the kind of people that psychology commonly deals with, those with repressions and complexes and such. it would seem however that from the view of practitioners of meditation that in many cases the mind, the individual mind stands in the way of accomplishing so called superhuman feats. Thich Quang Duc no doubt had his mind cleared of all doubts about what he was doing and all fears about pain and death, certainly a supreme feat of mind, but not necessarily using the mind. to learn how to control your mind first you have to clear it of all clutter, and be able to do so at any time in any place. that is not to think "empty mind" over and over, but to relax let the wave of living energy flow over you and let each thought flow from your mind without participation, breathe deeply but without effort, and continue until thoughts cease. not as easy as it might seem but certainly simple, so simple that it is often over looked. through the gateway of this one practice many things can be achieved.

very true