Witnessing thoughts
Meditation is all about being aware of one's thoughts, feelings and actions. For a beginner in meditation, it is important that he/she knows how to witness thoughts. Any feeling or emotions is a cluster of thoughts. If we can witness thoughts easily, then over a period of time we can witness emotions also.
Witnessing thoughts is not a difficult thing but it do needs patience, regularity and sincerity on our side. It takes time to learn any art and meditation is also a knack and it also takes its own time. Before discussing sutra's to Witness thoughts easily, let's discuss some true facts about our thinking and mind.
- In reality no thought belongs to us but when ever any thought
comes to us then we get identify with it and we believe that this is
what 'I' have thought. But in reality all thoughts come from outside and if we don't
give our cooperation to them then they will leave with out leaving
any affect on us. This idea that this is my thought or feeling
should be dropped with understanding, if some one really wants to
meditate deeply.
- Most of the time we are thinking the same thoughts. According to
a research, 99% of our thoughts are repeated. Very rarely we think
some thing original. It is because our life is controlled by mind
which is never new. Mind is based upon our conditioning which is
given by society, parents, friends etc.
- Thoughts can not be stopped. More we try to stop thoughts more they will come. But only in meditation they stop. In meditation thinking is stopped because we have stop cooperating with thoughts. Thoughts feeds on our energy and cooperation. They don't have any identity or energy of their own. Once we stop feeding them with our energy then slowly they dies away.
How to Witness thoughts
- Witnessing is the art of dis-identifying with thoughts or
feelings. It means we don't associate our self with any kind of thoughts. When any thoughts comes to our mind then we don't
Judge it, or condemn it, or interpret it as good or bad thought, or get
involved with it by giving our input in any way. Instead of all this
we just watch these thoughts.
This watching is just like watching vehicles coming and going in a traffic signal. We are just standing on the side of the road and watching the vehicles coming and going. This aloof watching of vehicle is an perfect example of art of witnessing which can transform our life.
But the moment we come to road and try to stop any vehicle then it means we have got involved with the vehicle. In terms of meditation it means we have got identified with the thought.
- Let the thoughts come and go. No need to bother about their
type. Some times good thoughts will come, some times they will be they will be
ugly or bad. Remember, these are not our thoughts and it is very
important that this fact goes deep into us that "no thought belong to
us, so no need to take pride or feel guilty for any thought".
- When we don't cooperate with any thought or in other words we
don't give our energy then these thoughts leave on their own. But the
moment we get involve with them then we lose our alertness and moves
towards unconsciousness. We just need to stay detached and keep on
watching at these thoughts. Let no thought leave with out being
noticed by us.
- Suppose we have missed the meditation and are carried away by
thoughts, then it is alright. No need to feel guilty or do self
condemnation. The moment we remember that we have got involved with
the thought, break the pattern and start witnessing the thoughts again.
With practice we will become more expert in watching thoughts
and it takes time which varies from person to person and on our
sincerity.
- As we have already discussed that thoughts feeds on our energy
and cooperation. So when we stop interfering or getting involved
with a particular type of thought then slowly it stop coming to us.
This is because now we are not feeding it with our energy.
- Regularity in practice is very important. One hour of meditation
can not tackle 23 hours of unawareness. So it is important that we
practice watching thoughts when ever it is practically possible.
Slowly over a period of time we can be aware of our thoughts while
crossing a busy road also. Always remember, "To become more aware,
One has to become more Aware. Awareness leads to Awareness".
- No need to stop thinking, let them come. Stopping thoughts is
not our duty or business. The very idea of stopping thoughts is also
a thought. Secondly, The effort we put in stopping
thoughts will bring more thoughts. So let all these thoughts come
but watch them. No thought should leave with out being watched by
us.
- No need to choose any thoughts. All thoughts whether good or bad are thoughts. So just stay detached, aloof watcher of these thoughts. Let no thought leave with out being witnessed by us.
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