Mental Health and the Brain
Today, I’d like to explore how mental health and the brain are connected.
All of us carry some form of worry, and while many troubles may seem trivial in hindsight, some persist long after others fade away. Even those who appear to be thriving on the surface often feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction or emptiness.
I personally see this persistent sense of anxiety as a type of spiritual hunger. When someone is physically starving, it’s obvious to everyone around them, and they’re more likely to receive help. However, spiritual hunger is invisible and can easily go unnoticed. Children and adults alike can suffer from it without ever knowing. Like the message in The Little Prince that the truly important things are invisible to the eye, we need to pay close attention to notice both our own and others’ internal struggles.
When we ask what the brain is actually for, the core functions seem to revolve around sensation and movement. When we look at the timeline of life—from single-celled to multicellular organisms, from plants to animals, from fish to amphibians, and from mammals to modern humans—one major theme stands out: the acquisition and expansion of brain functions.
In the evolutionary lineage spanning single-celled organisms → multicellular organisms → deuterostomes → chordates → vertebrates → fish → amphibians → amniotes → synapsids → mammals → Purgatorius → omomyids → Aegyptopithecus → Proconsul → great apes → australopithecines → Homo erectus → modern humans (Homo sapiens), the brain evolved primarily to integrate sensory inputs and control movement. For animals, the brain is fundamentally an organ for “sensation and movement.”
Humans like to say the brain is for thinking, but its true essence is in connecting sensation to movement. If we don’t use this capacity, it dulls, much like a razor that rusts from disuse. A neglected brain might show its decline through reduced cognitive function, chronic lethargy, or unhealthy dependencies. These are visible signs of the brain’s silent distress, or even its decay. If we engage the brain well—making full use of its capacity for sensation and movement—it begins to “ferment” rather than rot.
Meditation and zazen are, of course, beneficial for this process. Practices that reduce stress, improve sleep, and help us relax are vital, and apps like Calm or Headspace do a wonderful job of promoting such habits. While I value these “static” activities, I want to suggest something more: “dynamic” engagement with every aspect of daily life. By acting mindfully and doing everyday tasks with care, we can achieve a profound sense of fulfillment. This is what our hearts truly crave. In my view, all the mundane details of daily life become a form of “shugyo”—shugyo that can be deeply joyful.
I created BrainDojo to help families share in that sense of joy, to stay mindful together. Although I designed it for myself and my family, I hope it can also support many other families worldwide. After all, this kind of shugyo is about discovering new aspects of oneself. I want people to experience the simple delight of practice as a family, and I believe BrainDojo can guide them on that path.
If you want to try BrainDojo, you can download it on the App Store.
