Well, since you asked... thought I might throw out my current thoughts on your questions. Now, I am by no means an expert. I'm a philosopher, which means I ask questions and draw conclusions using the information I have at hand. Given that... here goes Some questions--- to question. What is the difference between Brain and Mind? Your brain is that mass of tissue within your skull that enables electrical impulses to go on without concsious thought in order to operate the many functions of the body. Your Mind is the psychological mechanism of You, the being within your body, to actually take in information and break it down and use it. Does the Mind exist in the Brain alone? Nope. Your mind is with You, wherever you might be at that time. Can the Mind litterally be in the Hara or Center? Guess so. Can't say I know for sure, but don't know why not. What does it mean to use the Mind as a shield? Many things: A shield is used to protect. So if you can talk yourself out of a fight, I would consider that such an instance. More to the point, if you have good extension, project your true Intention to another or others that YOU are in control of the situation, despite other releveant facts, people would be less likely to mess with you. You know Client Eastwood in Dirty Harry? "Go ahead... make my day." At that moment in time, he was absolutly bullet proof. He just had to convience the criminal of that... and he did. That was using his mind as a shield, imho. What is the state of no-mindedness? No thought. No stress. No consideration. A moment and state of calm and peace and quiet. You'll know it when it is there... and then you'll be thinking again and thus it ends. Where does the no-mind exist? Within yourself, when nothing else matters in the world. AGAIN... I am no authority. I'm just a guy with a big mouth. Best to you and your adventures in life!