Thoughts are like ...

Here are many ways of working with 'Thoughts' to serve our best interests. 

Thoughts can be 'Depressors' or 'Boosters'

Thoughts are always entering and leaving the mind. Some of them depress my energy and motivation. When I let such a thought linger, I sense losing my energy and motivation. The longer I let it remain, the weaker I will become. I am responsible for shaking it off my mind or creating a counterthought to conserve my energy and motivation.    

Thoughts are like 'Birds in the sky' 

When you show interest, the bird lands on your head, builds a nest, and breeds more birds.   More... Audio recording 2:51 min

Thoughts are like 'Clouds in the sky'

Keep watching the clouds of different shapes. Your rich imagination sees in them dogs, rabbits, cats, monsters, and so on. No cloud stops for you. Every cloud is on its way, slowly going past you, even as you keep watching it keenly. In a few minutes, that monster-like cloud becomes invisible, and a dog cloud appears in its place. Similarly, thoughts of various shapes inciting colorful emotions appear in your mind. Just keep watching the thoughts, treating them like the clouds. Let them slowly fade out of your mind, just like the clouds.

Thoughts are like 'Trains arriving at the train station'

Every train of thought has its color and destination. You ignore the thoughts going in the wrong direction by keeping yourself busy with a calming task.   More...

Thoughts are like 'Mosquitoes'

At some places in India,  when we needed to sleep, we had to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, even when sleeping inside the house. Our bedtime ritual was to put up a mosquito net over the bed, supported by four poles attached to the four legs of the bed frame. We carefully lift one side of the net, taking care not to let even one bug inside, creep into the bed, and meticulously tuck in the lower edges of the net under the mattress, all around. Then we could sleep happily. We could hear the mosquitoes buzzing outside the net, but they couldn't bite us.

Thoughts are like those mosquitoes. When we are not under the 'meditation net',  thoughts can easily land in our mind, may dig in, and stir up some stressful memories. But when we are practicing 'counting breaths meditation', it works like a 'thought net'. It keeps the thoughts at a distance. We can hear their buzz, but they can't bite us.  After a while, they pass on without doing any harm.

Thoughts are like 'Uninvited guests'

You allow the uninvited guest to enter and let him settle down on your living room sofa. He feels accepted and welcomed. After a while, he brings his wife, then his children, and then his grandchildren.  More...

Thoughts are like 'Imaginary demons'

In a typical folk tale, a demon kidnaps the princess. The prince goes searching for her. He comes to know that the fierce demon's life is in an insect which is kept inside a jewel box kept in a secure place. The jewel box is in a place guarded by several giant dragons spewing fire and other scary creatures. The hero reaches the secret place, crossing many hurdles. He now sees the fierce-looking demons guarding the door leading to the small jewel box. These creatures threaten to kill him if he goes near them. But when the hero boldly faces them and decisively strikes them with his sword, all the fierce-looking demons instantly disappear. He then opens the jewel box, takes out the small insect, squeezes it between two fingers, and kills it. The demon holding the princess at a distant place falls to the ground and dies immediately.

Similarly, the scary thoughts are like those fierce demons.  When we boldly face those scary thoughts and act against their dictates, those demonic thoughts just vanish. Those thoughts don't have any teeth to bite us!

Thoughts are like 'Delusions'

This was a scene from an Indian movie 'Namak Haram'. The actors Amit and Raj drink a hallucinating brew. Amit is disoriented, but Raj is in his senses.   More...

Thoughts are like 'Plants in the garden'

The garden has desired plants and also unwanted plants, the weeds. Paying attention to a thought is like watering a plant.  Responding to a thought mentally, verbally, or physically is like supplying plant food to the plant.    More...

Thoughts are like 'Images on the screen'

Your mind is like the movie screen on which thoughts are constantly projected like images. You are in the audience watching the thoughts.    More...

Thoughts are like 'Balloons without air'

A thought that enters the mind is like a limp balloon without air. Paying attention to it is like blowing air into the balloon, giving it life and significance.  More...

Thoughts are like 'Tuning forks'

We get about 60000 thoughts in a day. Most of them just flicker in our minds, and we hardly notice. But a few thoughts grip our minds like leeches robbing us of our peace of mind.  Their effect lingers for quite some time.    More...

Thoughts are like 'Dead leaves blowing in the wind'

Most of them are dead, and they fly along with the wind. 

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