Ilchi Lee

Q: What are the most common reasons I lack control over my brain?

A:The most obvious reason that people lack control over the brain is that they simply don't believe that they have control. Many people speak of the brain as though it were a biomechanical machine that simply follows the ebb and flow of hormonal fluctuations. I believe that this is a very shortsighted, incomplete image of the brain.

Instead, I think that you can control your brain and not be controlled by it. This belief is the starting point for genuine mastership over your brain. Your brain is a powerful rocket ship that can take you anywhere you want to go in life, but you must first put yourself in the pilot's seat. The thoughts you produce and emotions you feel do not need to be haphazard and random, potentially distracting you from your intentions. You can learn to process information in a clear, focused, and produtive way. Of course, it takes some time and practice to become a genuine pilot who can control your brain well, but you can do it!

Ilchi Lee

Q: I have been trying to go to sleep early in order to wake up at dawn, when energy is the most pure. But I always find something to do just before bedtime, and I don’t go to sleep before 1 or 2 am, which prevents me from waking up early to meditate.

Does this have something to do with my unconscious mind, and do you have any suggestion to overcome this struggle? I don’t need to sleep long hours, but I need at least six hours of sleep to function. Can you help me?

A: If you really want to change your sleep pattern, it needs commitment and power of choice like any other change of habit. The most important thing is managing your time and energy effectively, so that you have the strength and vitality to get things done as planned. To be in sync with the natural rhythms of your body, it really is best to be in bed before midnight. Always “finding something to do” is also just a habit that you can change, not necessarily some trick of your subconscious. Overcoming this habit is just a matter of will and persistence.

Ilchi Lee

Q: I moved from my home country 6 years ago, and since then I have lost my passion for life and my understanding of its purpose. I try to go out and be like everyone else, but it just doesn't seem the same anymore. I'm down to the point where even small daily tasks are a big effort for me. Anything that I look at around me brings only worry, sadness, and guilt. I feel useless and a failure in this life. What can I do to change these perceptions or thoughts to make my life happy again? How can I clear my thoughts of doubts about myself and move forward more freely and optimistically?

A: In my youth, I went through some very difficult times. I couldn't find any meaning in life, and nothing interested me. I felt misplaced and disoriented.

One day while I was walking around my small village, not knowing what to do, I saw a pile of garbage in my neighborhood. It looked ugly, but nobody was willing to do anything about it. I decided to remove it because I needed something to do, and it would help other people, also. I just did it without giving any serious thought to it. But unexpectedly, when I finished the work, I felt great joy arise in my heart. It was a pure joy that you can experience when you do something good for other people unconditionally, without expecting any reward or praise. Even though I didn't know yet what to do with my life, it left me with a lasting realization that human beings have an instinct to benefit others, and the satisfaction of this instinct makes us happier than anything else. It gave me a hint of the direction of the rest of my life.

You may find it hard to do anything for yourself, but strangely you may find it easy and satisfying to do something for others as I did. That may awaken something within you that cherishes the greatest common goal of all humankind--to live in a peaceful, mutually benefitial world.

Ilchi Lee

Q: My workplace does not have a good environment; there is a lot of conflict and dissatisfaction. Is it best for me to leave the situation or to stay and try to fix the situation?

A: Your brain knows the answer already, but only if you know what to ask. I would ask, “What can I do to make a positive difference in this situation?” and “What do I really want?” If you are honest and courageous enough to acknowledge and accept the answer, I believe your brain always gives us the best answer you need, whatever the question is.

Ilchi Lee

Q: Can brain wave training enhance my third eye so I can see auras?

A: Yes, it could possibly help you develop this sort of ability. After all, heightened sensory ability must be awakened through your brain, and brain wave training is definitely intended to awaken your brain.

However, I would caution against making this the primary goal of your training. The purpose of brain wave training is the creation of complete physical, mental, and spiritual health. The ability to see auras is simply a skill that the brain can attain, like athletic or academic ability. It is really far more important that you are a healthy, happy, and peaceful person, and the ability to see auras can not guarantee these things for you.

If you really want to learn to see auras, please set that as goal for yourself. It will be great challenge for your brain. But during your quest, don’t forget to first ground yourself through development of your physical body and to work consciously to open your heart to those around you. If you let these things become a priority in your life, you will open yourself up to a whole world of beautiful things, not just the ability to see auras.

Ilchi Lee

Q: How do you describe a "creative" person?

A: First of all, everyone is a creative person. Sometimes only musicians, actors, and other “artistic types” are given credit for being creative. This is very unfortunate because creativity is a gift given to every human being, not just to a talented few.

In actuality, you are creating all the time, whether you know it or not. If you gain awareness of how important your creativity is, you will be able to begin using it well. It is wonderful to create beautiful paintings or inspiring poems, but true creativity is about making something far more important than these. The most important thing you create is your life itself. It is critical that you empower yourself to create the life you want.

Many people ignore their own creative genius in this regard, and turn over the creation of their lives to others. Instead of deliberately creating the life they would like to live, they simply follow the expectations of society, family, or some other influence. This is a tragic scenario that is painfully common, and it is the source of many people’s unhappiness. This is why I always tell people to ask themselves, “What do I really want?” Once you have found an honest and sincere answer to that question, you can start creating your life accordingly.

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that you are not good enough or do not deserve the life you want. There may be many obstacles in the way of actualizing your dreams, but with diligence you can create anything. This, I think, is the true meaning of creativity.

Ilchi Lee

Q:Do you follow a specific practice to become inspired?

A: Habit is the opposite of inspiration, so try to free yourself from the idea that you need to practice something specific to be inspired. Forced practices, based on the notion that this is what someone “should” be doing, do not benefit inspiration. When I truly need creative ideas, I simply ask my brain. If you would like to emulate this, you first need to have great faith and trust in your brain, which comes from experience.

Once you experience the process of coming up with creative ideas, it becomes a lot easier. That is why when inventors have one successful invention, they often come up with hundreds of other inventions. Once your brain experiences the act of creating, it will become easier to repeat the process. Our brains need the experience of self-assurance and success, that feeling of “Ah, yes! This is how it’s done!” Then creating becomes a positive habit reinforced by positive emotions.

Perhaps you think that I have no earthly idea what goes on in the world and have no interest in it. Maybe you imagine that I meditate all day long with my eyes closed, focusing only on the inner world. But this is not the case at all. While I always make time for meditation and reflection, I also read all sorts of books, scan the daily newspapers, and surf the Internet so that I can see the news, trends, and innovative ideas shaping the world.

I am also greatly interested in the activities of many people in fields other than my own. People such as athletes, entertainers, artists, and businesspeople who have achieved great things in their fields always possess wisdom that they can convey to the world.

In my case, I get a lot of great ideas when I am on my morning walk or riding in a car or plane. Ideas come to me much more readily in environments with a constant feeling of motion and speed, rather than in quiet and still spaces. Maybe this is also true for you, or perhaps just the opposite. Observe the kind of environment your brain is the most creative in, and then make a great effort to create that environment for yourself.

Ilchi Lee