Comments on: Are we addicted to thinking? http://www.meditationvillage.ca/meditation-journey/are-we-addicted-to-thinking/ live conscious, connected and happy Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:05:24 -0700 hourly 1 By: YeShey http://www.meditationvillage.ca/meditation-journey/are-we-addicted-to-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-4 YeShey Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:19:08 +0000 http://www.meditationvillage.ca/?p=217#comment-4 This is a very interesting and provocative blog, thanks for bringing it up Simone. At first I thought that I did not agree that thoughts are an addiction - it is the nature of the mind to think. So I looked up the word addiction in the dictionary definition: "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma" And now I am quite sure I do not agree. Thoughts are not a habit, thoughts are only a segment of the mind (which we explore in depth in Step 3). Thoughts are not the enemy. The way that we respond to the thoughts is what causes us to create habits and result in trauma. The whole point is HOW we react to the thoughts. When we react to anything we create a seed that will give fruit. If we do it over and over again we create habits. If our reactions make very light impressions, they are easily eradicated, and do not create habits. When our reactions are strong they make deep impressions, and habits that are difficult to overcome. It is true that we would love to have respite from the constant barrage of thoughts that Maggie refers to. This brings great peace to the mind and spirit. It is also true that the thoughts are incredibly difficult to control. The good news is that we are learning how to overcome this constant barrage of thoughts and when they do come, to not react to them so intensely. During meditation, treat thought like wind that blows through a house that has the front and back door open. No harm, no foul. Just the wind, just thoughts. This is a very interesting and provocative blog, thanks for bringing it up Simone.

At first I thought that I did not agree that thoughts are an addiction – it is the nature of the mind to think. So I looked up the word addiction in the dictionary definition:

“the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma”

And now I am quite sure I do not agree.

Thoughts are not a habit, thoughts are only a segment of the mind (which we explore in depth in Step 3). Thoughts are not the enemy. The way that we respond to the thoughts is what causes us to create habits and result in trauma.

The whole point is HOW we react to the thoughts.

When we react to anything we create a seed that will give fruit. If we do it over and over again we create habits. If our reactions make very light impressions, they are easily eradicated, and do not create habits. When our reactions are strong they make deep impressions, and habits that are difficult to overcome.

It is true that we would love to have respite from the constant barrage of thoughts that Maggie refers to. This brings great peace to the mind and spirit. It is also true that the thoughts are incredibly difficult to control. The good news is that we are learning how to overcome this constant barrage of thoughts and when they do come, to not react to them so intensely.

During meditation, treat thought like wind that blows through a house that has the front and back door open. No harm, no foul. Just the wind, just thoughts.

]]> By: Maggie Rose http://www.meditationvillage.ca/meditation-journey/are-we-addicted-to-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Maggie Rose Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:27:22 +0000 http://www.meditationvillage.ca/?p=217#comment-2 I appreciate what you say about thinking and how difficult it is to stop the continual barrage of information floating into to my consciousness. This is the main reason any attempts at meditation in the past have been short-lived. I try it for a few days and then quit. Both in the meditation audios and here again you take a gentle approach to this happening. I have been kinder than usual to myself when I catch myself, many times in the course of a few minutes, thinking about something that just floats in from nowhere. I am not a very patient person sometimes, and give up on things too easily. I am committed to seeing this through, and hope I can continue my daily practice no matter how long it takes to get some even small breaks from my monkey-chattering head. Thanks for your help, Maggie Rose I appreciate what you say about thinking and how difficult it is to stop the continual barrage of information floating into to my consciousness. This is the main reason any attempts at meditation in the past have been short-lived. I try it for a few days and then quit. Both in the meditation audios and here again you take a gentle approach to this happening. I have been kinder than usual to myself when I catch myself, many times in the course of a few minutes, thinking about something that just floats in from nowhere. I am not a very patient person sometimes, and give up on things too easily. I am committed to seeing this through, and hope I can continue my daily practice no matter how long it takes to get some even small breaks from my monkey-chattering head.

Thanks for your help,

Maggie Rose

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