Thinking

“When you reach for the stars, you are reaching for the farthest thing out there. When you reach deep into yourself, it is the same thing, but in the opposite direction. If you reach in both directions, you will have spanned the Universe.”

- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Thinking is done in language and imagery in our minds. When we talk we also use language to reflect how we feel about something. It is important that no one should tell you what to think or to coerce you into believing something that you do not. You must form your own opinions and be able to see the truth in them. Our thinking evolves over time as well. How you think and see the world at 30 years old will not be exactly the same as when you were 19. We are a culmination of our experiences. Learning itself is an experience that strengthens your mind and enriches the person you are. These are some of the things modern day Psychology tackles. Psychology explores how memory works, human reasoning, as well as our motivations and behavior.

"Take a chimp brain fetally and let it go two or three more rounds of division and you get a human brain instead...And, out come symphonies, ideologies and hopscotch."

- Robert Sapolsky

What is "imagination?" To me imagination can be language itself. I mean someone had to make it up, right? Every language was "invented" and many languages were a bit eclectic when they were created, that is to say we borrow "words" and rearrange them or dissect them to fit "a new language." We are such a creative species! We can't help it, it's part of our nature to dream and aim for the stratosphere in life.

Jane Hirshfield - For What Binds Us.

It is imagination that created myths, religions written by people for people, philosophy, science...these are all things we created to try to understand ourselves better, to search for the truth about our existence and what may be "behind things" within ourselves, within others, and within this Universe.

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein

Sensitive, The Movie

Our science is designed so you must be able to "show me" and reproduce laws you claim to be true. Theories and hypothesis' are our creativity at work using the facts observed as a base for the ideas. The source of new ideas does come from creativity and how humans learn is achieved often through imitation (of watching other humans and observing our environment) so we have to be careful that we don't get "locked in" to what we learn so much that we are not able to think freely (unconditioned).

What you feel and experience as you go through life is not just you....it's a shared human experience that transcends all cultural boundaries. That is to say if you were born in Japan or Russia or any place else for that matter you would come to know love, anger, and sadness along the path of life by living it. These are examples of how we are the SAME as human beings. We all have our dark sides as well as the illuminated joy in our hearts we can feel at times. There is a depth of feeling in some people that runs deeper than others, such as highly sensitive people which make up 20% of the world's population. The movie "Sensitive" that premieres in the summer of 2015 explores this biological human type shared by women and men.

So walking the path, not just knowing the path is the challenge of a lifetime....some may also call this self mastery. Remember: You are not your thoughts because you think them. Many of these thoughts we pick up along the way from what and whom we encounter in this life. Sometimes these thoughts can steer us in the wrong direction....it's never too late to bring more peace into your life and let go of the past.

"Stop thinking, and end your problems. What difference between yes and no? What difference between success and failure? Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid? How ridiculous!

Other people are excited, as though they were at a parade. I alone don’t care, I alone am expressionless, like an infant before it can smile. Other people have what they need; I alone possess nothing. I alone drift about, like someone without a home. I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty. (some humor here)

Other people are bright; I alone am dark. Other people are sharp; I alone am dull. Other people have a purpose; I alone don’t know. I drift like a wave on the ocean, I blow as aimless as the wind. I am different from ordinary people. I drink from the Great Mother’s breasts."

~ Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu translated by Stephen Mitchell

~ Links ~

Highly Sensitive People 10 Traits of an HSP

Susan Cain - The Power of Introverts 101 Zen Stories

Tolle's Books The Dalai Lama - compassion and happiness Lao Tzu - Great Sage

I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Tao Te Ching

Brave_New_World The Awakening of Intelligence by J. Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti's website Lucid Dreaming The Power of Seduction by Chen Lizra

Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives

Signs of a Psychopath Control Freaks Life is Short

Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself

Changing Your Brain By Changing Your Mind Ram Dass - "Mother"