What is Thought? – Yogic & Buddhist psychology
Often we ask ourselves “WHY” we have certain thoughts, but it is rare to explore WHAT is Thoughts. Neuroscience explores where thoughts are happening, but it is hard to find a study that explains WHAT it is. Have you thought about it? This is an explanation of Yogic & Buddhist psychology, and I hope you learn to become the Master of your thoughts, not the other way around.
What is Thought?
In Yogic psychology, our thought process is referred to as Buddhi. It is often described as a cutting instrument like a knife. When we say analyzing anything, it means we cut a complex matter into small pieces to understand the issue. This intellectual process has allowed human beings to make sense of this world and manipulate external matters to our survival. As many chefs value sharp knives, we want our intellect to be razor-sharp so that it allows us to understand various issues and identify solutions or remedies.
It becomes a mental health issue when you swing this sharp knife all day long for everything, or your arms become so unstable. Indeed, it is a beautiful tool for our survival and well-being, but if you are trying to use it beyond its limits, it may harm yourself and others around you.
What are the limits and boundaries of Thoughts?
Can you think about something you haven’t seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched? The answer is ‘No.’ You may answer yes, but the details of your imagination are from something you knew, like the dragon, which has horns of deer, skins of snake, claws of an eagle, etc. It is simply impossible for you to think anything beyond your memory, Manas. How many memories do you have of this universe? Very little. How many memories do you have about tomorrow? None. This is the limited nature of our thoughts. So, when you think “I know this,” it is actually false, and it will get you to suffering.
Next, let’s talk about the capacity of Thoughts. When you worry about what will happen to you tomorrow, how many variables can you compute? An article published in the Association for Psychological Science journal says FOUR variables are the limit of human processing. Then let me ask you, “How many variables are affecting you right now?” When we try to figure out this world, our intellect is not a good tool to use. It is like you are swinging a kitchen knife to cut a giant marble mountain. No wonder you can become anxious or depressed.
In summary, Thoughts are often referred to as a monkey because it mimics; in other words, it is reactive and jumps around all the time. This monkey is dragging you around the dumpster of your memories fueled by your emotions. It knows very little of this universe while it tells you it knows it all. It is time for you to become the master of this monkey, not the other way around.
3 steps to take charge of your own thoughts?
Know thoughts are just thoughts. Label any disturbing thoughts as thoughts, not truth or fact. Recognize that you really don’t know everything and open yourself to unknowns. Meditate regularly. Your mindfulness of your thoughts will help you take mastery of this relationship. You can learn more about meditation here.
Leave thoughts alone if they are not helpful. Relax your body and let them be. Don’t try to control them. Your effort to control them will actually feed them more energy. Instead, shift your attention and engaging in some activities.
If there’s any issue you need to resolve, lean toward the issue and write down a plan. Rather than let your anxiety take over, pay attention to the situation, consider your responses and write down a plan to address it. Once your plan is written down, walk away from it or engage in preparatory actions.