Question
I'm confused. For the past several years (precipitated by depression and personal crisis) I have been reading a lot about spirituality, quantum physics, etc. There seem to be at least two trains of thought regarding, yes, thoughts. One, they become words, which become deeds, which become habits, which then make your world. "Thoughts become things, think good ones." Then, as in meditation, we are to simply be aware of our thoughts, watch them come and go, and not get involved with them. Vernon Howard, whom I admire, says that every thought that comes through our heads is not even necessarily our own. Better to think positively, be nonjudgemental, etc, or be the "witness" to our thoughts and not buy into them as "we are not our thoughts". I just feel that I am missing something here, the two concepts seem so at odds with each other, yet they both seem to have merit. I appreciate your "thoughts" on this! Thank you, Carole
Answer
Hi Carole,
Thoughts are energy and when given a construct.. a form... it can be then called a thing.... Beliefs are energy that becomes what I call a Thought forms and are attached to the thinker or even society in general.. These thought forms have tremendous power and influence over our lives...
The form of Meditation that you mention is what I call "denial based" and is not what I subscribe to... It makes no sense to deny the thoughts and ideas of this reality... for the sake of a mindless and thoughtless one.... only to come back to this reality... What did you learn in your mindless state that can better your present life? NOTHING!
Now I'd say a good 95 percent plus... of all the thoughts and ideas that are in your head... are not your thoughts or ideas.. and even the so-called inner critic is not your voice...but it pretends to be... Most of your programs and beliefs you have are what you have learned from others and are not your ideas. Even your language, social customs and traditions and religion are not YOUR thoughts or ideas.. you merely use them....
Becoming aware of your thoughts is key to becoming aware of who and what you are... Positive, negative, observer, participant, critic, sad, heartbroken, angry, rage, terror, happy, playful and on and on... Is this MY voice or is it a voice of a part of me? If it is a part... why is it seperate from me... If this is not my voice, then whos voice is it and why is it here and how did it get here... Then you can get into your feelings and emotions.. Is this my feeling or am I feeling someone elses feelings.. Then you can get into your body.. Is this my present pain.. or a memory of a pain I have in my body? Does this pain belong to another person? If so.. why am I feeling it?
Well that should give you some "food for though" :)
John
