Re Thoughts

[Guest guest]

I've found all the comments re thoughts very interesting.

Thoughts and feelings are perhaps like body and mind, not able to be

sensibly separated, as they are different representations of the same

thing. They are both the inevitable consequence of our journey in

life thus far, guaranteeing the " monkey mind " Caroline refers to. As

such they are not " who we are " , but " where we've been " .

They will be triggered into re-appearing by cues which are present in

our current circumstances.

The idea, as I understand it, is not to try and change them or

replace them with more beneficial thoughts, for we may as well try

and change our past of which they are a faithful representation.

Instead, welcome their re-appearance, acknowledge them for being our

honorable response to difficult circumstances (which is why we

acquired them in the first place), and then bid them adieu, knowing

that in all probability, they'll return soon enough. This method

decommissions them, meaning that they no longer run us. Perhaps it's

like withdrawing energy from an issue rather than adding energy to it

by resisting it, or trying to change it.

Thank you also Audrey for your comments on the feelings which

accompany the thoughts. Yes, it's not likely that someone thinking

negatively about herself will feel positively. I've reviewed the

website I mentioned in my first posting to try and make sure I'm not

mis-representing the authors on this one, but of course I am.

In the same way as thoughts are given expression, the feelings need

to be felt, whatever they are. This seems to me to be Eastern

philosophy, which claims that the problem we have is not the actual

content of the thoughts, nor the substance of the emotions, but that

we come to identify with them in ways which are limiting.

Caroline, I'm no expert in this, but the Buddhism I've read about

doesn't advocate denying the feelings as such, but advocates that the

person both expresses the feelings and acknowledges that she is more

than her feelings. To acknowledge the beauty of our own creation,

irrespective of what thoughts or feelings life has assigned us, is

liberating and healing.

Best wishes

Arjuna