Be careful of popular accepted aphorisms !

[Guest guest]

" We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our

thoughts, we make the world. " ~ Buddha

 

That's a poor paraphrase of what Buddha actually said; see link for some good

comments:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=35067157310 & topic=14833

 

but, even those comments do not get to the core of what Buddha and other great

ones were trying to teach us.

 

Here's my 2cents POV. Actually we are neither our thoughts nor our bodies,

because everything we can perceive and conceive cannot be who we truly are

because we are that which is the witness of all our perceptions( what we see )

and all our conceptions( what we think).

 

In analogy, we are the sun which is covered up by the dark clouds of our

thoughts. But our true nature as peaceful spacious loving awareness does shine

through the gaps/spaces between thoughts. In meditation, or otherwise, when our

thoughts subside, we can experience our true nature more fully by resting in the

silence of the heart.

 

It can also be said that our primary nature is silence rather than noise(

thoughts).

 

And as St. Francis of Assisi said it succinctly, " What we are looking for is

what is looking. "

 

Perhaps what Buddha was saying was that, as long as we identify with our

thoughts, we should become aware that our thoughts precede our actions and

therefore our actions will be according to our thoughts. From this comes the

whole philosophy of positive thinking which is a good start. But, we may find

that it's too hard to be positive all the time by trying to control our

thoughts, especially when we become overwhelmed by a continuous stream of

thoughts which may include doubts, confusion, frustration, fears, anger,

politics, etc.

 

So, the thing to notice more fundamentally is that, not only thoughts precede

action, but that silent awareness precedes thoughts. Silent awareness is the

source of peace, love, compassion, wisdom, fearlessness.

 

In other words, when through meditation, contemplation, prayer, and selfless

service, we have learned to rest in the silence of the heart, and to listen,

rather than entertain a continuous stream of thoughts, our thoughts( fewer,

stronger and clearer ) will come from a place of positivity and compassion and

our actions will be likewise.

 

Do not take what I said on faith, but rather as a hypothesis and test it out.

Observe your thoughts and all your perceptions. Who is observing? Notice any

peace, silence? Who are you?

 

Amma Bless,

amarnath