What Is the Mind? — The Quiet Answers Philosophy Has Built Up: Chapter 5　Mental Fatigue and the "Sacred Blank"

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Hello everyone. This is Akira.

In the previous chapter, we saw how Plato described the heart as seeking the “perfect essence (the Forms)” through this imperfect world.

The heart possesses the power to move toward something more true and better.

So how does the heart of those of us living in modern times perceive such essence, and in what state does it find itself?

Modern society is overflowing with “ideals” and “better versions” more than ever before. Smartphone screens constantly display perfectly curated daily lives and moments of success.

At work we are always told to “produce more results” and “be more efficient.” In relationships we speak of “the ideal partner” or “harmonious connections.”

All of these are, in a sense, not the “true form,” but processed, idealized, and sometimes excessively beautified “imperfect copies.”

Even though the heart seeks essence, in daily life we end up endlessly chasing these copies.

When we keep chasing them, the heart is constantly placed in a state of “not enough” and “I must do better,” with no time to rest.

This leads to the brain feeling heavy, concentration becoming scattered, and a strong sense of fatigue where one thinks “I don’t want to do anything anymore.”

This is one manifestation of what is commonly called brain fatigue in modern times.

This fatigue is not simply due to an excessive amount of information; it is also an expression of the heart being kept away from the essence it originally seeks and being tossed around by miscellaneous copies and expectations.

When the heart becomes exhausted, it becomes harder to feel joy or fulfillment, and one easily falls into a state of merely going through the motions of daily life.

At such times, intentionally creating a “sacred blank” becomes an important opportunity for the heart to recover and turn once again toward essence.

A sacred blank is simply time and space in which one does nothing and remains quiet.

Turn off all notifications, set aside the tasks in front of you for a moment, and just let your mind wander.

At first, feelings of “guilt for doing nothing” or “wasting time” may arise.

However, within that blank space, the heart gradually begins to regain its calm.

In the process, questions naturally arise in the heart such as “What is truly important?” and “Is the direction I am heading in now close to essence?”

The moment we stop chasing, the heart tries to return to its original orientation.

This is one practical way to apply, in a modern context, the “power to seek essence” that Plato spoke of.

By letting go of the miscellaneous information and expectations that have accumulated from chasing — like emptying the mind’s trash bin — and entering a kind of power-saving mode for a while, the heart can recover from exhaustion and open up the possibility of moving closer to a more essential way of being.

Of course, this is not a religious discussion about the soul, but a form of daily heart care that anyone can incorporate.

Especially when the brain is tired, instead of forcing yourself to push forward, intentionally creating blank space allows the heart to naturally find its own path to recovery.

In the next chapter, we will explore this sacred blank and rest in greater depth — how to incorporate them into daily life, and how they connect with Japanese thought as well.

Please look forward to it!

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Akira

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