Overcome Delusions🔥 Discipline Instincts: FUDŌSHIN (Immovable Mind) 不動心
Reflections - Part 8
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2️⃣Reflections series: Thoughts on psychology, mental health, zen, philosophy, and self-development for your inner work.
Each week, I alternate between these series. Each series reflects my background in martial arts and psychology. Appreciate you for being here!
Mental Conflict or Cognitive Dissonance - When can it weaken our Inner Strength?
Hello dear readers,
Welcome to another edition of the Reflection Series.
This week, I will start with a story about two friends of mine who found themselves in the same situation, but responded in very different ways.
Both friends visited their doctors and were warned to avoid overeating certain foods, as continuing their habits could lead to serious health issues. The advice struck a nerve for both of them, triggering an internal conflict between their values and motivations.
On one hand, they saw food as a source of comfort and stress relief, a small joy in their daily lives. On the other, they faced the importance of prioritizing their health.
How did they handle this internal conflict? Each resolved it differently. One chose to downplay the doctor’s advice, dismissing it as overly cautious and continuing with their usual habits. The other took the warning to heart, making significant changes to their diet and addressing their cholesterol risks head-on.
This is a classic example of an Inner Conflict, or as it’s known in psychology, Cognitive Dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is a familiar concept in psychology used for describing that inner tug-of-war we all experience. It’s the uncomfortable tension you feel when you’re trying to hold onto two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes that just don’t align.
When this happens, people try to ease this tension by changing what they believe, finding new info, or making one of the conflicting ideas seem less important.
The example of my two friends perfectly illustrates this concept. One chose to downplay the doctor’s advice, convincing themselves it wasn’t as serious as it sounded, and continued his usual habits. The other took the advice seriously, acknowledged the risks, and made significant changes to his diet and lifestyle.
Both resolved their inner conflict (cognitive dissonance) in their own way, but here’s the key: while the conflict was resolved for both, the long-term outcomes will likely look very different.
Also, the first one resolved it by giving in to his impulses, and the second resolved it with FUDŌSHIN, an Immovable Mind.
The Sword that cuts through Illusions and the Rope that Binds Ignorance
Let’s begin by clarifying a common misunderstanding about the term Immovable Mind, or Fudoshin in japanese. Many interpret it as the state of being psychologically rigid, but that’s not what it truly means.
First, from the perspective of quantum physics and Hermetic principles, absolute immobility is impossible. The principle of vibration—stating that everything in the universe is in constant motion—directly contradicts this idea.
Second, Fudoshin doesn’t imply standing still. Instead, (within the context of our inner conflict) it symbolizes an unshakable commitment to one’s values and objectives.
It's all about staying focused and determined, no matter the chaos around you or the turmoil inside. Someone with Fudoshin has a mind so locked on their purpose that nothing—no emotions, distractions, or challenges—can throw them off track. When the mind reaches this state, the body and emotions naturally follow.
In Japanese tradition, Fudoshin is often represented through the figure of Fudō Myōō, a powerful symbolic guardian. This figure isn’t an object of worship but a rich metaphor for inner strength and clarity.
The Symbolism of Fudō Myōō
Here are three key elements of Fudō Myōō’s symbolism:
1️⃣ The Fiery Aura
The flames surrounding Fudō Myōō symbolize purification. They burn away illusions, ignorance, and negative karma, clearing the path for spiritual and personal growth.
This fire represents an internal process—one that destroys attachments (harmful attachments for us) and inner obstacles, allowing clarity to emerge. In other words, this fire is a powerful internal state, and this state manifests as action through the symbolic Sword and the Rope.
An example of an internal state and manifestation as an action is when you feel calm and focused during an exam, and the manifestation is that you write something aesthetically clean and concise in meaning. Or when you are in a calm state and your actions when you’re dancing, doing yoga or martial arts flow.
2️⃣ The Sword
Fudō Myōō wields a sword, a symbol of wisdom and the ability to cut through delusion and negative thoughts. On a higher spiritual interpretation, it means cutting through the illusions of this world.
On a more psychological interpretation, it represents the decisiveness required to sever ties with harmful beliefs, unhealthy attachments, and illusions that cloud judgment.
Picture those times when doubts or fears mess with your head. The sword? That’s your inner strength and determination, cutting through the nonsense and pushing you forward.
3️⃣ The Rope
In his other hand, Fudō Myōō holds a rope, symbolizing compassion and control. The rope is there to tie up harmful influences—inside and out—that might mess up your path. It doesn’t get rid of them but keeps them in check, making sure they don’t cause any trouble.
On a higher spiritual interpretation, the rope binds evil forces.
On a more psychological interpretation, it deals with instincts. These are not inherently bad; they are part of our survival mechanisms. But when unchecked, they can spiral into destructive behaviors. The rope is about the discipline needed to keep these instincts in check and channel them in a productive way.
The symbolic Sword and the Rope in Action
In the context of our psychological application of Fudoshin, there are cases where we must use the symbolic sword, and cases where we must use the rope.
The sword must be used to cut irrational beliefs, and the rope must be used to discipline instincts.
Now, if you do it the other way, and try to use the sword to cut out your instincts, you're going to fail. Instincts are a part of us. They serve a role, because they ensure our physical survival. You can't just slice them away.
You do that, and you’re inviting all kinds of dangerous forces from your unconscious. Attacking these instincts can stir up trouble from deep inside, leading to anxiety, bad behaviors, or even losing touch with yourself.
On the flip side, if you use the rope to tie up your irrational thoughts, that's not gonna work either. Thoughts, especially the crazy or harmful ones, need to be faced head-on, not tied up or ignored. If you just bind them without dealing with them, they’ll sit in the background and mess with you in sneaky ways.
Using the rope wrong gives you a false sense of control while leaving the real issue unchecked. Irrational beliefs are what you must confront and cut away ASAP, much like Fudō Myōō using his sword to cut away delusions.
So, the sword? Use it to cut through irrational beliefs, bringing clarity. The rope? Use it to guide and manage instincts, keeping them in line with your goals and values without letting them run wild. Each tool has its job, and messing that up throws off your inner balance.
To conclude with an example
Take that friend who ignored the doctor and kept eating unhealthy. Now, our instincts around food are normal and crucial. They’re there to make sure we eat and survive. But for this friend, those instincts went out of control. Instead of just nourishing the body, they led to health issues.
So, when the doctor warned him, his love for food and the addiction it brought took over his judgment. He downplayed the health risks, going for the immediate pleasure instead. His mind was MOVED by instinctual forces.
Here’s the kicker: when instincts get out of hand, they start making decisions that clash with long-term health. Instead of helping us survive, they end up causing harm.
That’s where the symbolic Rope of Fudō Myōō comes in. It’s about having the discipline to keep those instincts in check, guiding them to stay within healthy limits.
Just like the other friend did, for example. He didn’t cut out cravings completely. Instead, he swapped in healthier versions of his favorite meals and found new ways to handle stress by walking and going to the gym. The rope here was all about discipline. It helped him manage cravings while still meeting his needs.
👉 And finally, you might wonder: where did the second friend wield the Sword?
He used it to cut through delusions like, “The doctor must be exaggerating; I’m fine,” or, “I’ll never stick to this diet or lifestyle anyway.” With clarity and decisiveness, he severed these excuses, recognizing them for what they were: delusions that stood in the way of his growth.
Why was he able to do this? Because his connection to his why—his burning intent—was stronger. Like the fiery aura of Fudō Myōō, this intent fueled his actions and guided him toward what truly mattered. The stronger his connection to his purpose, the brighter that fire burned.
For the second friend, this fire was ignited by many meaningful reasons. He made the change not only for the sake of his health but because he understood that by being in his best shape, he could give his best to the goals that inspired him. And above all, he wanted to be fully present and provide for the people he loved.
These motivations merged into a powerful flame, one that pushed him to live with mindfulness, to focus on the simple, yet deep things that truly mattered.
That’s it for this article dear reader. 😊
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I really enjoyed this post, thank you very much.
A terrific post that offers quite a lot of insight into human psychology and behavior with very clear examples. I will keep it in mind to help when I am facing my own times of cognitive dissonance. Thanks!