Your Thoughts Are Illusions

Society teaches us that thinking is an essential function of existence.  Philosopher Rene Descartes is attributed with the phrase, “I think, therefore I am,” meaning that the fundamental nature of being human and our existence is based on our ability to think.   Success guru Earl Nightingale once posited that “you become what you think about,” which also stresses the importance society places on the thinking process.  In spite of all this, I’m going to impart a statement that may surprise you, that might be difficult to accept and that is the following:  YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ILLUSIONS.  That’s right, you read that correctly.  Those things that are constantly flowing through your mind are actually not real.  Let me explain a bit further.

When we have a thought, we tend to identify completely with that thought.  In other words, there is no separation between what we think and who we are as individuals.  We become so caught up in our thought streams that we forget about the actual present moment.  Behind those thoughts that we are constantly, obsessively thinking, there is actually a silent, empty witness, an eternal nowness that is all that really is and all that ever will be.  Our concepts of the past and the future are both products of this thinking process and are, like those thoughts, illusions. 

To realize this is really liberating.  This is the foundation of Buddhist philosophy as well and the path to enlightenment.  There are Four Noble Truths in Buddhism and for our purposes here, I’ll focus on the first two.  The first Noble Truth is that all life is suffering.  The second is that this suffering is caused by attachment.  One thing that we can become attached to and that is the source of suffering is a thought.  We need to release this attachment.  Now. 

One way to achieve liberation from the thinking process is through mindfulness meditation.  We can focus on the breath and become mindful of it.  We can also be mindful of each passing thought and thus learn to detach from these thoughts.  Mindfulness is the key to liberation and practiced over time can lead to equanimity and long-lasting contentment.   We are constantly perseverating on the past and making plans for the future.  This can be important for success in life, but can also lead to discontent and suffering.  We need to realize that the present moment is all there really is and live life accordingly.

By taking up the practice of meditation and learning to detach from and become mindful of thinking, a life will begin to transform with time.  Previous preoccupations and obsessions will recede and greater self-acceptance and satisfaction will begin to manifest. 

This can be helpful with addictions and bad habits too.  In his book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a landmark book about addiction, Dr. Gabor Mate offers strategies to overcome addictive habits.  He stresses the importance of recognizing that when an obsessive or addictive thought occurs, that it is not a real “need” that must be met, but only that:  a thought.  It is also the result of brain chemistry and wiring that can be corrected over time by the process of attention and mindfulness.  One needs to step outside of him or herself and become a witness to the thinking process which will lead to transcending of this thinking and obsession.  You also need to delay the process of taking action on your thoughts.  Do something constructive and creative to take your mind off the object of addiction or habit.  The thoughts will begin to recede and become less attractive with time and patience. 

Though our thoughts are illusions and the present moment is all there is, this does not mean that we can completely be free of thinking.  Thinking is important for existence, but humans become too attached to it and suffer as a result.  Thoughts are like clouds drifting through an open, blue sky.  They pass and continue on, but are never permanently there.  The impermanence and transience of the clouds and thoughts are a key attribute of life and when we realize this, life become a lot more bearable.  Depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness are illnesses of thinking.  Realizing that thoughts aren’t  who we are, that there is an eternal, ever-present witness behind all thoughts, is the key to overcoming most of the suffering that is life.  Freedom is possible.  Enlightenment is possible.  Now is all there is. 

Modern culture stresses the importance of obtaining more and more, of becoming more and more, of success and achievement as the key to happiness.  What is really important however, is presence and to live life mindfully, kindly and lovingly.  So next time you get caught up in your thinking process, take a mindful breath and realize that it isn’t really you at all.