Thoughts Are Just Thoughts
Los pensamientos son solo pensamientos--por Dilgo Khyentse Rimpoché
Lo que normalmente llamamos la mente es la mente engañada, un vórtice turbulento de pensamientos azotados por el apego, la ira y la ignorancia. Esta mente, a diferencia de la conciencia iluminada, siempre se deja llevar por una ilusión tras otra. Los pensamientos de odio o apego surgen repentinamente sin previo aviso,
desencadenados por circunstancias tales como un encuentro inesperado con un enemigo o un amigo, y a menos que sean vencidos de inmediato con el antídoto adecuado, rápidamente se arraigan y proliferan, reforzando el predominio habitual del odio o apego en la mente y agregando más y más patrones kármicos.
Sin embargo, por fuertes que parezcan estos pensamientos, son solo pensamientos y eventualmente se disolverán nuevamente en el vacío. Una vez que reconozcas la naturaleza intrínseca de la mente, estos pensamientos que parecen aparecer y desaparecer todo el tiempo ya no podrán engañarte. Así como se forman las nubes, duran un rato y luego se disuelven en el cielo vacío, así surgen pensamientos engañosos, permanecen por un rato y luego se desvanecen en el vacío de la mente; en realidad no ha pasado nada en absoluto.
Cuando la luz del sol cae sobre un cristal, aparecen luces de todos los colores del arcoíris; sin embargo, no tienen sustancia que puedas captar. Del mismo modo, todos los pensamientos en su infinita variedad -devoción, compasión, daño, deseo- carecen por completo de sustancia. No hay pensamiento que sea otra cosa que vacuidad; si reconoces la naturaleza vacía de los pensamientos en el mismo momento en que surgen, se disolverán. El apego y el odio nunca podrán perturbar la mente. Las emociones engañosas caerán por sí mismas. No se acumularán acciones negativas, por lo que no habrá ningún sufrimiento posterior.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con la noción de que los pensamientos que incluyen la devoción, la compasión y la nocividad son 'totalmente sin sustancia' y 'eventualmente se disolverán nuevamente en el vacío'? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de un momento en que un pensamiento que era aparentemente difícil se disolvió para no dejar rastro? ¿Cómo explicas la naturaleza efímera de los pensamientos en tu toma de decisiones?
del libro El tesoro del corazón de los iluminados, traducido por Padmakara Translation Group.
from the book The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that thoughts including devotion, compassion, harmfulness are 'utterly without substance' and will 'eventually dissolve back into emptiness'? Can you share a personal story of a time a thought that felt difficult dissolved to leave no trace? How do you account for the ephemeral nature of thoughts in your decision-making?
Add Your Reflection
18 Past Reflections
On Jul 5, 2022 Dwayne wrote :
Hello! This post couldn't be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article
to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
save refuges
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article
to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
save refuges
Post Your Reply
On Jul 2, 2022 Wade wrote :
Howdy! I could have sworn I've been to this blog before but after
going through some of the posts I realized it's new to me.
Anyhow, I'm certainly pleased I came across it and I'll be book-marking it and checking back often!
save refuges
going through some of the posts I realized it's new to me.
Anyhow, I'm certainly pleased I came across it and I'll be book-marking it and checking back often!
save refuges
Post Your Reply
On Jan 15, 2022 Jayanti wrote :
when a thought arises with a feeling in the body, it's impact often creates a deep sense of reality - whilst thoughts arise and pass, as is said, like clouds in the sky - the body somehow remembers the trace of all things, until even the body has to release and let go of its holding on. The body is the first and last refuge of all things, whilst awareness simply lingers in the mist.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 14, 2022 Gururaj wrote :
Whether a thought/emotion has 'substance' or not, do their effects not have 'substance' ??. The article itself is an outcome of thought. I suspect there could be an energy transcending thought or the source of it and the more my centre of gravity is in THAT , the thought manifestations act as a good tool rather than as a very significant and often harmful force.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 12, 2022 Jangchub wrote :
These words from this supreme master (the main teacher of Matthieu Ricard, as well as mine) point out not just the real essence of meditation, but point to the nature of the mind. If we can apply this method & recognize that nature, it becomes not just an instruction to carry out on the meditation cushion, but an invaluable asset for every waking or dreaming moment. Once, I woke up one night tormented by certain thoughts that had plagued me day and night for a few years, and finally I saw that nature free of the delusion--and I said to myself,"What the f*ck." With that, it was over.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Lauren Brown wrote :
I love a good story—some thoughts that whirl around and create surprises and entertain me. I wonder if I’ll reach a point when I appreciate pristine stillness all the time.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Bob wrote :
What words are these on the verge of a thought? Nothing but the past.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Patrick (aka anonemoose monk) wrote :
Yes, it is true “thoughts are just thoughtsâ€, but many of us have known and seen the power of thoughts to affect to emotions and behavior. The practice of meditation has as a key element the dissolution of thoughts. }:- a.m.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Dudley wrote :
I’m sorry but this reads, to me, like a bunch of unfounded generalizations. No science, no examples of how it works. So thoughts have no substance? Duh.
1 reply: Patrick | Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Ines wrote :
What has become a challenge after my beloved passed, is waking up in the morning feeling completely lost, all kinds of thoughts threatening to drown me, doubting reality. For a while it has been difficult to focus on my blessings; even though I know joy and gratefulness can be the key to the mind shift I need.
1 reply: Mariah | Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Grace wrote :
Yes, every thought is illusion, including all the thoughts the author wrote in this article. It’s a Placebo human invented to try to be free from pain and suffering.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 11, 2022 Gwendolyn Holden Barry wrote :
This is the opinion, sadly, of someone who has never known love. Thoughts are consciousness, the essence of soul. Thoughts are the stuff of all creation. Big Bang that. All this explains is is a loneliness, an emptiness.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 8, 2022 David Doane wrote :
It is my understanding that everything including thoughts are essentially without substance, in that everything arises from emptiness and eventually dissolves back into emptiness. I have had many thoughts that I felt difficult, especially at 2 or 3 in the morning, and they and my ruminating over them are disturbing and keep me awake, and then they dissolve back into emptiness as I fall asleep once again. Actually that happened last night. For me, the ephemeral nature of thoughts is part of and the same as the ephemeral nature of everything -- nothing is always. My thoughts and my decisions come and go, like everything. For me that is not sad or negative, it is just how this human life is.
Post Your Reply
On Jan 7, 2022 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Every thought arises in mind. Mind is the birthplace of all kinds thoughts and emotions good, ugly and bad. If I get attached to them and get stuck with them they occupy my clear and empty space. In other words I become possesed by my thouhts and emotions. Thoughts and emotions are ephimeral. They come and go unless I hold on to them adding more and more Karmik patterns and I get bound by such patterns. If I do not hold on to them they will be eventually dissolved. My mind will have emptiness like a clear sky with no clouds. In the empty and clear sky of mind uncondional love and compassion naturally arise giving birth to joy, peace and fufillment.
It takes time to wake up depending how long I have been sleeping. Practicing awareness has helped me not to go back to sleep but to remain awake. Practicing mindfulness in everyday life keeps me awake and free from the grip of craving and and grasping. Candid reflctions on getting stuck with self-created bondage helps me make wholesome d... [View Full Comment]