Your thoughts
2024-10-04T21:52:44+08:00 | 2 minute read | Updated at 2024-10-08T23:27:58+02:00
Getting pulled into your thoughts
Although you’re often pulled into thoughts because of their content, there’s something more fundamental at play: the very stream of thoughts itself gives you the feeling that you are a ‘you’. It’s not just the content of the thoughts, but the presence of thinking that reinforces the sense of self. The continuous stream of thoughts keeps the illusion of ‘me’ alive.
Boiled down, simply having a thought is already identification. The moment a thought arises, the sense of ‘I’ is born. You having thoughts makes you think you are a ‘you.’ The act of thinking itself creates the illusion of a separate self. Without thoughts, there’s no ‘me’ to hold onto - just pure awareness.
There’s nothing wrong with having thoughts. They create beautiful things in the world. But the problem arises when we unconsciously identify with them. Thoughts are just pointers, passing through. When you recognize this, you can appreciate them for what they are, without letting them define you. In this way, thoughts remain creative and meaningful, but without the self-attachment.
How do you do that? By practicing non-dual awareness. And how do you practice non-dual awareness? By understanding the theory, releasing the ego, and building up your treasure trove of glimpses that will eventually transform your everyday experience into one that is more wide, open, and relaxed in its relationship with thoughts.
