Thoughts and actions

This article is inspired by a recent conversation with a friend. The article is based on a friend's experience of "I am a person, and I am performing certain actions."

The friend explained that there was a certain type of action or behavior that they did not wish to continue. They asked the author's opinion on how he dealt with a similar situation.

The conversation was interesting and a certain part of the conversation was worth sharing in an article.

But, before we look solely at our actions, we want to look closer at how these actions are set into motion. Observing closely, we see that thoughts arise, and from these thoughts, actions come.

The action is only the result of the thought, so we want to look closer at the thought process. We want to become aware of the thoughts.

Just a thought

The first thing we want to do, is to acknowledge a space between the thought and ourselves. We want to see thoughts as objects, appearing to us, as the subject.

We go to a quiet place, close our eyes, and just observe how these thoughts arise from nowhere. Even 'I-thoughts' and 'me-thoughts' will arise, and we observe them too. We observe, without engaging with the thought.

We keep observing until we acknowledge that yes, these thoughts are just objects appearing and dissolving, and we can observe them from a 'distance'. This gives us confirmation that we are not the thoughts. 

A point of view

This point of observation is very powerful. If we can observe thoughts from a distance, it means that we don't have to respond to the thoughts immediately - or at all. We can watch them come and go. The more time we allow for a thought to dissolve, the less likely we are to act on it. This is a huge vantage point!

See, we do not have to stop the thinking process. This is not a solution. The mere idea that we want to stop thinking, is just another thought. The 'one' that should stop thinking is itself a thought!

We do not know which thought will appear one minute from now, and we cannot control the thoughts. But, we can control how we respond to them. 

The conclusion is that before we try to change our actions, we want to look at the thoughts behind the actions. We work on the more subtle, unseen forces that drive our actions. Dealing with them in a peaceful, mindful manner, our actions are certain to reflect the same.

Becoming aware of our thoughts and witnessing them is not the final solution to a peaceful and happy life, but it is a big step toward it. 

As we peacefully observe the sun rising and setting, we can also peacefully observe thoughts arising and falling.

Related articles on this blog:

A beautiful paradox - 28 December 2022
A pointer inwards - 30 November 2022

My devotion, my service - 22 September 2022