Interacting with invisible thoughts vs interacting with visible objects
Throughout our lives, we are taught that we are defined by the functions of our bodies and our senses of perception. However, this belief hinders our ability to see that behind these functions lies something else, something much more subtle yet with a more influential role: the mind and thoughts.
Beyond thoughts, there is awareness, which holds the power to give thoughts reality when it identifies with them. When thoughts are recognized as thoughts, they lose their deceptive nature, and we realize that they are merely neutral and impersonal byproducts of the nervous system.
Knowing how to interact with invisible thoughts is just as important as knowing how to interact with objects perceived through our senses of perception. In fact, it may be even more crucial, considering that thoughts shape our behaviors, choices, interactions with others, and even impact our physical health.
To learn how to interact with thoughts, we must do one thing: observe and recognize them. It is impossible to change our behaviors, choices, relationships, or health condition without recognizing that which occurs at the conceptual level.
This implies acknowledging that every time we say "I," "you," "the other person," and so on, we are essentially referring to our capacity to observe what the body does. When we say that "one must learn to observe their thoughts," the word "one" pertains to awareness, while "thoughts" refer to the function of the nervous system associated with thought production. Therefore, the observer who watches the thoughts is not a thought, a sense perception, or a bodily sensation. The observer is the knowing aspect, the witnessing presence of awareness, and thoughts are observed just like any other object with shape, color, or structure.
Living consciously necessitates understanding our relationship with all these objects. Being aware of formless and invisible objects like thoughts is even more crucial than being aware of visible objects. True perception occurs through awareness, not through the five senses.
Knowing how to interact with invisible thoughts is just as important as knowing how to interact with objects perceived through our senses of perception. In fact, it may be even more crucial, considering that thoughts shape our behaviors, choices, interactions with others, and even impact our physical health.
To learn how to interact with thoughts, we must do one thing: observe and recognize them. It is impossible to change our behaviors, choices, relationships, or health condition without recognizing that which occurs at the conceptual level.
This implies acknowledging that every time we say "I," "you," "the other person," and so on, we are essentially referring to our capacity to observe what the body does. When we say that "one must learn to observe their thoughts," the word "one" pertains to awareness, while "thoughts" refer to the function of the nervous system associated with thought production. Therefore, the observer who watches the thoughts is not a thought, a sense perception, or a bodily sensation. The observer is the knowing aspect, the witnessing presence of awareness, and thoughts are observed just like any other object with shape, color, or structure.
Living consciously necessitates understanding our relationship with all these objects. Being aware of formless and invisible objects like thoughts is even more crucial than being aware of visible objects. True perception occurs through awareness, not through the five senses.
Nikos Batras