The revolution in thought
Thought is a peculiar thing. Used intentionally, it serves as a powerful tool capable of manifesting the most complex structures. But more often it uses us, occupying our minds that are thus unable to perceive the reality of what is. This occupation brings about all pain and misery as it cuts us of life, which is really rather magical in itself. It creates conflict and contradiction, between what we think or believe, and what we actually see.
We then desperately attempt to mould reality into what we think it should be, which is the manifestation of modern culture. But ultimately, since our efforts are born of pain, it only brings further misery. Whatever our thoughts tell us to do, ends up in a havoc. See this through to the end, and you find the truth of it in yourself.
“Are you bringing about thought, or is it bringing about you, in the sense that you see the world, including yourself, through its filter?”
There is another source of action available to us. That source is perception, without the filter of thought. You see reality for what it is, and take action on it naturally, without even needing the effort of thought. For example, physical exercise is not ‘effortful’ in itself, but the story we have of it is. There is nothing inherently effortful about going on a run, but we declare it so because we resist it by the force of thought. When action is taken from pure perception (e.g. we feel the body needing movement) our response is natural, pure and productive, like a clean river flowing.
Occupational thought, in comparison, filters what we perceive, without our awareness, and pollutes the activity at hand, making it sticky and painful.
Thought is only useful as a tool to help action, but dysfunctional and destructive as the source of it. We can witness this in society. As ideas, ideals and ideologies rule, the results continue to be as terrifying and idiotic as further division, conflict and war.
The revolution of thought is in catching every thought and investigating its use. We find our mind cleared out in the process, like a river cleaning itself. From that silence, life gives us the instructions for real action to come through.
“Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognise and greet it. Only then will you know how to give yourself to this world so worth of rescue.”
– Martha Postlewaite
