How to observe thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness?
It is no surprise at all that the Mind always creates thoughts. In fact, human Mind is a natural creation and obviously activities of the Mind is natural. Creation of thoughts as well cessation of thoughts are very natural for the Mind. The reality is that no human being is absolutely from thoughts. This is also natural that some people experience too many thoughts and some people experience fewer thoughts or too little thoughts. Of course, such more or less thoughts is totally depending on the Mind. As thoughts are invisible, in fact, they are unguarded, there is always chance to get the Mind stuck up within the clouds of thoughts. In such case, the Mind usually face difficulties to escape from such clouds of thoughts. If such thoughts can observe or watch by the Mind, the Mind always keep itself away to engage with thoughts. If the Mind is in Mindfulness, the Mind can always observe or watch thoughts. But, how to observe thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness? This question always appear when observation of thoughts come. This Article is going to explain how to observe thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness.
Let’s have a look to understand in brief about thoughts & Mindfulness that can help you to deep down how to observe thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness.
What is thought?:
Thoughts are the creation of the Mind that is common understanding by almost everyone. Let see what Wikipedia say about thoughts?
According to Wikipedia, the term thought or thinking refers to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem-solving, and deliberation. But other mental processes, like considering an idea, memory, or imagination, are also included. These processes can happen internally independent of sensory organs, unlike perception. But, when understood in the widest sense, any mental event may be understood as a form of thinking. Including perception and unconscious mental processes. In a slightly different sense, the term thought refers not to the mental processes themselves but to mental states or system of ideas brought about by these processes.
If we look at the above definition as stated on Wikipedia, in generally can say that thought is an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring or arising or appearing suddenly in the Mind. In fact, consciously or unconsciously, thought arise or appear in the Mind and such thoughts also disappear in the Mind too, That means thoughts are the creation of the Mind and all thoughts are also disappearing in the Mind from where they were generated. No doubt at all that arising & disappearing thoughts in the Mind is very natural for all human being. In fact, no human being can avoid or ignore the reality.
What Mindfulness really is?:
Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind to bring itself in the Present Moment by being aware of its existing moment. In fact, the Mind has such ability of being aware of itself and also have the ability to bring back its Attention when the Mind noticed that it is not in the Present Moment.
According to Wikipedia. Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention in the present moment without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or through other training. Mindfulness drives from Sati, a significant element of Buddhist tradition.
If we look at the above definition of Wikipedia, it is clearly indicating that Mindfulness develops through Meditation or some other training. That means Mindfulness is the ability of the Mind which can be cultivated or developed in the Mind through Meditation or some other forms of training related to the Mind.
Thoughts arise in the Mind moment to moment:
Most of the human being are not concern at all about thoughts and also not concern how thoughts arise in the Mind. The Mind always create thoughts and such thoughts always disappear in the Mind. This is natural for all human being. This is taken as granted as the Mind always acts or moves naturally its own way as being a natural creation. This is obviously true.
On the other hand, almost no one bother at all why thoughts should be observed or watched. As its the functions of the Mind. Why not let the Mind work its own way, as nothing can do forcefully. Of course, this is also right. Isn’t it?
If the Mind starts to move within the clouds of thoughts and keep continue to get puzzled by its own creation, then, the question arise whether any way is there to get rid of such puzzle? In fact, when the Mind get puzzled, the person has to face such puzzle situation as the Mind is associated with the human body. Then, the Mind itself chase to find out the way so that it can remain without any distraction, even such distraction is nothing but the self creation. Even it might look so funny, but, this is the reality and almost everyone tries to avoid or ignore this reality. What about you?
Thoughts arise moment to moment in the Mind. Similarly, thoughts are also going to be disappearing in the Mind. The hurdle is that, most of the thoughts disappear so fast even they are noticed by the MInd. In such case, the Mind usually, not much aware at all about thoughts. Due to loo little awareness or no awareness at all on such thought, the Mind can’t notice them at all.
As thoughts arise & disappear at the moment to moment, in Mindfulness, the Mind is always aware that thoughts arise & disappear moment to moment. If the Mind has no awareness at all about such thoughts, in fact, the Mind can’t be aware of itself. The Mind, in fact, round the clock busy to create thoughts & move here & there. Never remain settle or still in a certain point.
If the Mind is not aware of thoughts which are arising moment to moment, of course, the Mind is not aware of itself at all as the Mind is in creation of thoughts continuously. If the Mind doesn’t understand that thoughts are arising moment to moment, in such case, the Mind can’t be aware of such thoughts which are arising moment to moment and also not able to observe thoughts moment to moment also.
So, let the ind to understand its creations that is thoughts that are arising moment to moment. This job is let the Mind observe thoughts moment to moment by the Mind too. In Mindfulness, the Mind has the ability to understand the true or real nature of thoughts which arise moment to moment.
Let the Mind be aware of thoughts that are arising moment to moment, being in Mindfulness:
If the Mind is not aware at all, the Mind can’t aware of thoughts to those are arising moment to moment. Let the Mind be aware of thoughts moment to moment so that the Mind itself be aware of its own creation which always try to put the Mind in the trap of thoughts. Once the Mind is aware in Mindfulness, the Mind is absolutely aware that thoughts are arising in the Mind. If thoughts moves to disappear, the Mind is also aware that thoughts are moving to disappear. If thought disappeared, the Mind is also aware that thoughts are disappeared.
As Mindfulness is there in the Mind, in fact, the Mind has the ability of aware of itself. In such case, thoughts are the creation of the Mind. As a result, the Mind is aware of thoughts also that are arising. As most of the time, the Mind engages to create thoughts, in such case, awareness always follows the Mind by being in Mindfulness and the Mind itself is aware of thoughts that are created by the Mind moment to moment.
By being aware of the Mind itself as well aware of thoughts, the Mind understand that thoughts arise in the Mind moment to moment and also disappear at the moment also moment to moment. Once awareness follow the Mind and also become aware of thoughts, that means the Mind is totally aware of every step of thoughts process from arising to disappearing in the Mind. In such case, no thoughts are out of awareness of the Mind. In fact, if no awareness is there, the Mind can’t be aware of thoughts as well not able to observe thoughts too.
Hence, let the Mind be aware of itself as well aware of thoughts that are arising moment to moment so that the Mind can observe thoughts.
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Observe thoughts moment to moment without any judgement in Mindfulness:
As Mindfulness remains in the Mind, that means the Mind is not only aware of itself but also aware of its creations. By being aware of thoughts, let the Mind observe or watch such thoughts that are arising & disappearing moment to moment. If the Mind is aware that thoughts are arising in the Mind, let the Mind observe such that are arising at the Present Moment. If thoughts are moving & disappearing, let the Mind observe or watch such thoughts that are moving & disappearing. Of course, the Mind must be away from any judgement of such arising or appearing and disappearing of thoughts.
Now, the question comes, why no judgement of thoughts? Right?
If the Mind starts to judge over thoughts no matter of arising or moving or disappearing of thoughts or like what or why, etc., the Mind, in fact, going to engage with thoughts. Once the Mind starts to judge such thoughts, the means, the Mind is getting totally engage with such thoughts. In such case, the Mind is getting away from awareness of such thoughts as well getting away from observing such thoughts. In that case, judgement result always totally depends on the state of the Mind. The Mind can accept or reject or make judgement by its own way.
Once judgement is there, in fact, the Mind can’t find or understand the true or real nature of thoughts as the Mind judging thoughts by its own way and no specific standard is there. As a result, judgement result always get bias and no original attributes of thoughts remains at all. Then, thoughts become altered or imitated by the Mind.
So, let the Mind only be aware & observe thoughts without any judgement by moment to moment.
Let the Mind not to force itself to observe thoughts moment to moment:
In fact, the Mind is a natural creation. Being a natural creation, the Mind is designed to act or move naturally. No external force can do anything to stop such natural activities or movement. As thoughts are the natural creation of the Mind, obviously, the Mind acts here naturally to create such thoughts’ moment to moment. Both the Mind and thoughts are in a movement of natural way.
If the Mind insist or force itself to observe thoughts, obviously, such natural momentum of the Mind is going to impact. The something also applies to thoughts. if the Mind insist or force stopping thoughts, such natural momentum also getting impact. That means both the Mind & thoughts are in a natural rhythm even all thoughts are creating by the Mind.
In such case, let the natural momentum to follow its natural way. Insisting or forcing either over the Mind or over the thought, the Mind in fact, faces distraction of such natural moment of the Mind as well As thoughts too. Once the Mind is distracted, obviously, the Mind gets wild and starts to create more thoughts and put itself in a cloud of thoughts. Ultimately, the Mind is getting itself in the trap of distractions. Hence, let the Mind act or move its own natural way where natural moment remains as usual naturally.
Understanding the natural creation, let the Mind move naturally and observe thoughts moment to moment naturally by being aware of thoughts.
Thoughts are inherently powerless & momentary that can understand by the Mind by doing moment to moment observation in Mindfulness:
Being aware and also observing thoughts without any judgement, the Mind can understand that all thoughts are the creation of the Mind by itself naturally. And, also can understand that no thoughts remain long times. All thoughts usually disappear in the Mind so fast after arising in the Mind. That means, the Mind is the creator of all thoughts and the same Mind is the cessation of all thoughts too. It means all thoughts has to go to the source from where they were created. In this case, the Mind totally understand that thoughts are the creation of the Mind and all thoughts are momentary.
The Mind can also understand that all thoughts are inherently powerless. They don’t have any power from self. If the Mind get judge them and engage with thoughts, then, thought starts the Mind to actively at on thoughts. Otherwise, thoughts are totally powerless by them in own. They only utilize the power of the Mind once the Mind is engaged to act over thoughts. As being in Mindfulness, the Mind can understand the true or real nature of thoughts that are inherently powerless and momentary nature of thoughts. Of course, it is possible only for the Mind as remaining without any judgement. If the Mind engage with thoughts by doing judgement, in such case, obviously, the Mind can’t understand the true or real nature of thoughts at all.
Hence, let the Mind observe thoughts moment to moment without any judgement by being aware of thoughts so that the Mind can uncover or understand the true or real nature of thoughts in Mindfulness.
Let the Mind to face thoughts and let them go after accepting the reality:
Let the Mind to be aware of thoughts and keep continue to observe thoughts without any judgement. As no judgement, the Mind is absolutely not engaged itself with thoughts. As thoughts are inherently no power at all of their own, they can not also get the Mind to engage with them, in such case, thoughts can’t get any power from the Mind also. That means, thoughts become inactive as they can’t get the power from the Mind as the Mind is not engaging with them.
As a result, thoughts are absolutely with their original or real nature. They can’t get the Mind to be in the trap of thoughts. Hence, all thoughts has to disappearing after a while, arising in the Mind. It is like that thoughts arise in the Mind & disappear in the Mind without putting any impression or impact over the Mind. So, thoughts remains as usual and move to disappear as usual after arising in the Mind.
In this case, the Mind only aware of thoughts that are arising and aware of disappearing. Also, observing thoughts arising & disappearing by being aware of such arising & disappearing where no judgement is there. The Mind faces all thoughts and let them disappear No matter what situation arise or what reality the Mind has to face, the Mind only face them & let them go as usual naturally. It is like Let thoughts arise, let them face by the Mind and let them go where the Mind is totally not engaged with any thoughts and also, the Mind is not doing any judgement over thoughts at all. The Mind only be aware of thoughts & observe thoughts without any judgement.
Hence, let the Mind observe thoughts moment to moment without any judgement in Mindfulness and accept the reality and let them go as usual in their natural way.
Conclusion:
The Mind can only understand that thoughts momentary & inherently they are powerless, and such thoughts only get active in case they are judged by the Mind by engaging with them. If no engagement of the Mind with thoughts, thoughts remain as usual, and they disappear in the Mind after arise or appear in the Mind. As no engagement of the Mind, thoughts can’t get any active power from the Mind at all.
Observing thoughts without judgement, only possible, when the Mind is aware of thoughts. If the Mind is not aware at all, the Mind can’t observe thoughts at all. But, in Mindfulness, the Mind has the ability to be aware of thoughts as well aware of the Mind itself too and the Mind can also able to observe thoughts without any judgement.
Hence, observe thoughts moment to moment in Mindfulness as thoughts arise & disappear moment to moment.