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We are what we think. All that we are arises With our thoughts. With our thoughts, We make our world.
- Buddha (563 BC-483 BC) Founder of Buddhism.
Photo Courtesy of Arthur Berzinsh
My mind is a powerful engine that runs my life. I’m sure that’s the case with you as well. Ironically, I’m more conscious about what I eat and wear than those thoughts that fuel my mind.
Think that for a second. Isn’t that an astounding revelation? I spend more time pondering over the food that I eat and even the water that I drink than to safeguard the quality of thoughts that run my life. It’s always a struggle to develop consciousness towards intangibles in our lives - anger, frustration, self-pity, low self-esteem are the forms of impure thoughts that influence the quality of life without my awareness.
A view of reality
Our world savors the outer reflection - a beautiful body, a muscular body, a beautiful house, a beautiful car. This approach leads our thinking to form opinion by an outer reality of our life more so than an inner reality. We are judged by how many possessions we have and how we display our life by the cloth that we wear and the car that we drive more so than how magnanimous our heart is, how compassionate our thoughts are, how benevolence we bestow upon those who need our life resources to live a life of dignity. We spend a great deal of time showing visitors our spacious house with luxurious rooms and marvelous decor than to spend time sharing ideals of compassion and humanity.
To find yourself, think for yourself.
- Socrates (BC 469-BC 399) Greek philosopher of Athens
An outer reality vs Inner reality
As I ponder in a moment of silence, I stumble upon the truth for the mental clarity and boundless happiness. If I develop awareness of two distinct realities - an outer and inner, I can subvert fake, momentary desire of selfish and egotist pleasures. An outer reality is what exists outside and around me. An outer reality subverts my inner reactions by molding thoughts that incessantly flows though my mind. These thoughts form opinion about everything that I do during the day. For instance, when someone drives recklessly, I tend to get exasperated quickly with rushing thoughts of anger. These thoughts spur actions that often hurts me, from within, yet I feel helpless and act upon those thoughts of impurity. I have simply surrendered to impure thoughts to feel anger that existed only in my mind.
An inner reality is a form of pure thoughts that arise from my own controllable actions by practicing meditation and yoga. An inner reality is akin to a warm room with boundless tranquility unaware of the harsh outer reality - inclement weather that exists outside. If I practice mediation and yoga everyday, I will create inner reality that is pleasant and entirely in my control. We allow our thoughts to be blended by impurity that comes from the outer reality. A reckless driver subverts my otherwise tranquil thoughts with impurity of anger and exasperation. Those who live life of boundless mental clarity and happiness know how to keep an outer reality from influencing their inner thoughts. In reality, why am I focusing on thoughts that I cannot control? I cannot control how a reckless driver thinks, but I can choose how I react by controlling my thoughts. This is the first step to the path of mental clarity.
Outer goals vs inner goals
Those of us who tend to live life of discipline have a way of manging our daily actions. I tend to spend about an hour every week to plan my actions for the week with specific goals that I’d like to achieve. Over the time, I’ve found that sometimes it becomes rather difficult to keep perspective of what truly I wanted to achieve. More importantly, I’ve felt emptiness even after achieving certain goals. It seems almost a worthless goal by the time pursuit ends. I’ve stumbled upon another shiny truth in the quest to solve this mystery. I’m almost always focused on the outer goals - what I wanted to achieve in a physical form. I’m not focused at all on the inner goals - how I can achieve a spiritual balanced from within. For the last few months, when I plan my week, I also plan on time to develop my spiritual being. Achieving physical goals or outer goals without achieving spiritual goals or inner goals is akin to focusing on exercise without the quality of food we eat. Often, we tangle our outer goals and inner goals to subvert thoughts that are necessary to achieve these goals.
Additional tips for the mental clarity and happiness
1. Use power of mantras daily -
Mantra means a hack for the mind. ‘Man’ means mind in Sanskrit. Mantras are being used in the Eastern culture for thousands of years to train mind to form a habit. I use mantras for mental clarity. For instance, I frequently use, “Think well, eat well” mantra to remind myself the importance of choosing the right thoughts and food for my mental and physical clarity.
2. Engage in small acts of compassion -
Compassion has power to unleash positivity by performing positive actions to help others. I always try to make an effort to help someone everyday to unleash power of positivity to influx my mind. Act of compassion acts as an agent of clarity and boundless happiness.
3. Learn not to expect an outcome -
This is rather difficult and somewhat esoteric. How can we not expect an outcome for which we work hard for? It’s human nature to expect a fruition of the efforts. However, if I can act without a result, I can detach emotions that arise from the outcome that is not in alignment with my perception. The theory of karma simply teaches to act with compassion and leave the outcome to the fate with no emotions attached. Try this exercise with small tasks that you engage in. Once you master the concept, you can apply that to bigger things that you do in life. This doesn’t imply that we put lackluster effort behind our action for the fact that an outcome is irrelevant. It’s exactly opposite. It enables us to put best of our thoughts and actions knowing that an outcome will not jeopardize the clarity of our thoughts.
Associate reverently, as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts.
-Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, poet and philosopher.
How do you cultivate mental clarity? Have you stumbled upon different ways to purify thoughts for a better and balanced life?
Elsewhere - Chris Guillebeau has written a superb article on the importance of gratitude at Zen Habits
To Your Success,
Shilpan,
Excellent article. I maintain a list of all the Mantras that I like, some of them are motivational and some of them help me remember/guide me about particular situation. for e.g. “One thing in, two things out” is a mantra I use anytime I shop something and bring a new item to home. for e.g. If I buy one new T-shirt, I’ll throw-away/donate two old T-shirts.
Your discussion about outer and inner reality reminded me about the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”
Ramesh | The Geek Stuff’s last blog post..Protect your java code from reverse engineering
Nice post, to develop mental clarity and happiness I think basically 2 things have to happen.
1) Realise the existence and importance of your internal world (which this post well illustrates)
2) Take control and responsibility of the thoughts that occur in your hand. Manifesting internal awareness is critical
Jarrod - Warrior Development’s last blog post..Living your Passion
Hi Shilpan,
I like this advice “act with compassion and leave the outcome to the fate with no emotions attached.”
When we do things out of love, the rewards are too great to measure.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW Will Donate $1,000,000
In my personal life, I have found that the process of mastering my thoughts is something that has taken a *very* long time, and even more effort. Furthermore, I would contend there is no ceiling to how effectively we can channel our thoughts; it’s a life long process. We must confront our own demons — this is part of what it means to control our thoughts. If we do not confront, we can rest assured that our thoughts will take their own course, often to our detriment.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Top 7 Things I’ve Learned about Blogging
I’d also add, learn to take ownership of ALL of your actions, not only the ones that result in a positive outcome.
Taking ownership makes you powerful because you learn the depths of your own inner strength…even when things don’t go as you desire.
Enjoy,
Barbara
Barbara Ling’s last blog post..Instant Nobility - Make Your Own Dynasty in 3 Easy Steps!
This is such a great piece on mental clarity and really thinking about what we want from life. The part that got me (in a good way) was the idea of pondering more over food than the quality of our daily thoughts. Powerful. And so true. It is easy to think (and act) outwardly instead of inwardly. And yet, that which can bring us the most joy in our life will start from what’s inside.
Thanks for this - it’s just what I needed.
Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought for the Day
@Ramesh -
I agree with you. Mantras have always been instrumental in my life and I’m glad that you’ve similar sentiments.
@Jarrod -
Welcome. I agree that inner reality is created by our thoughts. If we learn to control what we think, we can slowly change outer reality. Thanks for your comment and I’d love to see more comments from you in the future.
@Barbara -
Attaching emotions to an outcome always has been my weakness. I’ve been working on it since last six months consciously and the results are astounding. I feel true freedom from the enslave thoughts of ego.. It’s incredible!
One of the best pieces that you’ve written. I’ve also got to admit that I’ve experienced great difficulty in trying to achieve point 3 - that is not to be too attached to an outcome. Having been taught to be goal oriented and to set targets, it is not an easy practice. A good reminder for me is one taught by one of my mentors: Just focus on the process!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..My Happiness Retreat In Khao Lak
Fantastic article like always! I love your list of suggestions for mental clarity and happiness. I really believe that people should spend more of their time working on bettering their ability to keep healthy thought patterns and mental attitude than many of the other things we so often worry about.
Doc KC
http://www.DOCintheBiz.com
http://www.GLCzone.com
Hey Shilpan!
I have yet to think of the word “mantra” to have a easy definition such as being “a hack for the mind”. Glad to learn something new today
Daniel
Daniel Richard | WE’s last blog post..An Affair With Nature
Completely agree about the power of compassion. It does have an amazing power, especially when we don’t expect anything in return.
Vered’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday: Would You Put THIS In Your Front Yard?
@Evelyn -
I agree with you as I’ve had difficulties with that as well. Key is to remember that we expect is entirely an expectation that we set in our own mind. Reality may not manifest to that level of expectation.
@Bamboo Forest -
I like your statement,”I would contend there is no ceiling to how effectively we can channel our thoughts.” Well said. Ceiling only exists in our own mind.
@Barbara -
Being responsible also includes the thoughts that we harbor. By detaching our emotions from the outcome, it becomes easier to analyze an outcome with same grace no matter how it turns out.
@Lance-
Isn’t that amazing that we spend more time pondering about what we eat, drink and wear than the quality of our thoughts.
Shilpan, thank you for this well thought out post. I have found myself lately getting caught up in the outer things, not material, just outer goals, etc and neglecting my inner needs. Yesterday, I took some time to go to the park and nurture my inner self. I realized that I have become overwhelmed because of neglect of the inner self on a regular basis. I realized the need again to spend more daily time with myself and God. This is crucial! It can not be neglected. It’s great to refocus.
Tip number 3 reminds me of this post I read just this morning. http://www.sftawareness.org/archives/thinking-error-update/
Jennifer’s last blog post..What’s Holding You Back?
Thoughts & especially impressions are the food of the mind, and thus our inner being. Impressions come from media, others, things we read & are exposed to.
An important word in Sanskrit is samskara: mental tendency or imprint. Samskaras are the seed motivations behind our behavior & actions. A seed holds the imprint but it doesn’t sprout & later ripen unless the right conditions are in place.
Great reminder to watch what we feed our mind. And compassion needs to be BIG. We’ve not time for small anymore, except in our footprint.
Pamir | Reiki Help Blog’s last blog post..Reiki for business people
I have a simple technique which I use globally in times of anger, sadness etc. I ask myself whether I want to feel this emotion and whether it is worth it. That’s all it takes.
Avani’s last blog post..A Brilliant Mind - Proven Ways to Increase Your Brainpower
@ Avani: That’s an interesting technique - I like it.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Top 7 Things I’ve Learned about Blogging
Hi Shilpan: I agree that when you meditate and are able to slow down the endless chatter of your thoughts it’s like “a warm room with boundless tranquility”. Also, like you, I’m a big believer in mantras, I use “rama” which was the mantra Gandhi used.
Marelisa’s last blog post..Get Out the Balloons - Choice for New Blog of the Week
@Dr KC -
You are the expert on this subject and I do appreciate your comment.
@Daniel -
Thanks for the kind words.
@Vered -
If you combine compassion + selflessness, a higher self evolves. It gives us lasting peace and pleasure from within to know that we are making this world a better place to live with we act with compassion and selfless.
@Jennifer -
Inner nurturing is as important as what we seek out in the physical world. Without a peace within, we can always struggle to achieve happiness.
@Pamir -
Very good point about the word Samskara. I also liked the way you put this,”Thoughts & especially impressions are the food of the mind, and thus our inner being.”
@Avani -
That’s a great way to keep our thoughts from subverting to anger, disappointment etc.
I definitely agree on “Small Acts of Compassion.” When we give of ourselves and do things for others, we start realizing how great we’ve really got it. We start to appreciate things more. And we realize how great an impact we make by doing such a “small” thing.
Beautiful, Shiplan. A key to inner peace.
Well, I would not say my mind runs my life anymore. It runs the illusion yes, but its ‘our’ mind that does that. Individual mind is just that which associates with the results, what you speak of. Only in that close focus does the wave forget its part of the ocean.
You might also consider the deeper value of what the Buddha says. The outer arises from the inner so they are not separate but rather a continuum.
And a little tip on inner goals. Outer goals are achieved by doing. Inner goals are achieved by not doing but rather by allowing. Very very easy but difficult as we are so out of practice (laughs). Be careful that the goal is not a push against.
Interesting take on mantras. To me, they are words where the relationship of meaning, form, and sound coincide. They have a known effect. You have to be careful as many in the east think of mantras as a way to force when they find their perfection in allowing. (see above) Submitting the key sound or idea into the deeper levels of mind where it is more powerful.
Read something last year on “switchwords”. Someone had studied the curious nature of the effects of words. Using them as triggers for all kinds of curious things, like finding lost objects.
Davidya’s last blog post..Spoken Words
@Bamboo Forest - you cannot master your thoughts if you are in them. Indeed, the monkey cannot be pacified on its on level. You have to step beyond the mind to step out of its domination of your attention. Shilpan has talked about that here.
I would also suggest that you will find the process much easier if you don’t try to confront your demons. Thats fighting fire with fire. This is resistance and can add more layers to what you struggle with. The key is in allowing what is. Allowing your demons to be as they are.
Ironically, when we simply accept that there is some darkness, it can fully be seen. In seeing, it is resolved and leaves us. Much like light removes darkness. Darkness is not a thing but rather an absence of something. Who? You. When the real you is seen, it is the end of darkness.
Ah, now Shilpan’s gotten me poetic (laughs)
Hello Shilpan
Thought I would add details of some useful Mind Maps which are free to download. They cover most subjects within your Blog and are useful as reminders/pointers. They can be found here:
http://www.mindmapinspiration.co.uk
Readers may also wish to visit this Inspiration website:
http://www.spiritualinspiration.co.uk
Regards
Paul
Hi Shilpan, I really love the part on setting inner goals. So often we aim for the next item on the shopping list or a new job but when we get them, something still feels missing inside. Perhaps we should be aiming for that feeling of joy and fulfillment instead, and leave the “how” to the Universe. I also like the idea on learning not to expect an outcome - this is definitely not easy, but once we’re able to free ourselves from limited expectations, we may allow the Universe to bring us bigger and better outcomes. Everything that comes afterwards will feel like bonuses.
Great post.
Irene | Light Beckons’s last blog post..Love Affair With Spirituality
@Christina -
When we show compassion, we open up our hearts. It’s akin to opening close windows and doors to breadth fresh air. Our thoughts then flows with nature.
@Davidya -
I love this quote,”Outer goals are achieved by doing. Inner goals are achieved by not doing but rather by allowing.” Well put. You are as always, simply brilliant.
@Paul -
I just visited your site and it is very interesting. Thanks for sharing the links.
@Irene -
Welcome to my blog. Inner goals are often ignored as they are not tangible. Our world only savors tangible goals. What we can show off to others is more important than what we can do to ripe from within. Once we get the perspective reversed, we can get the real vision and meaning of life.
Shilpan
Learning to not expect an outcome is critical. There has been so much written about attachment and how it leads to unhappiness. Learning to just do without expecting a particular result can be liberating. It’s similar to the concept of lowered expectations being the key to happiness I wrote about not too long ago.
Good work once again Shilpan. Keep it going.
When I was high school I came across the Hindu idea: “Play your part well and let go of the results.” That seemed to me to be the only sane way to go through life. It’s not always easy to do, but life is a lot more rewarding when I can manage to do it.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk’s last blog post..My New Role Model…the Sloth
Hi Shilpan,
One way I cultivate mental clarity is with chanting - I pop in one of my chant tapes and that simple act of chant gets me back in alignment.
I’d like to say that meditation gets me there but I’m still working on that. Thanks!
JoLynn Braley’s last blog post..Lighten Up on Yourself to Move On and Lose Weight
Many human beings think they are reflecting internally when they are actually visualizing images that begin outside themselves. The idea of looking within and experiencing a different reality can seem foreign. After all, when people taste foods, they often compare new flavors to familiar ones. This comes back to the human tendency to stick to what he or she knows. To move beyond the familiar and embrace the unknown is to begin to discover the extent of infinity.
@Lori -
It is very difficult not to expect a result. However, if we understand that our job is to do best and leave rest to the nature, we tend to detach our ego to subvert our thoughts.
@Jean -
Yes, In Gita, there is an emphasis on focusing on the Karma without worrying about the result.
@Liara -
We do have infinite wisdom untapped within ourselves. As you’ve mentioned, human tendency is to look externally for the solutions or fulfillment. That’s the root cause of grief.
Shilpan
Shilpan|successsoul.com’s last blog post..How to Cultivate Mental Clarity and Happiness
Your comments remind me of the many years I spent studying myself in a self help group that Uses 12 Steps to Serenity. I learned to meditate before I started out on my day. I learned to always look inward for my motives for acting and reacting. I learned to enjoy the simple things of life that we often take for granted. I learned to do a good turn every day that only I would know about. I learned to make plans but never plan the results. I learned that most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. I have to say that it was the best, most rewarding effort of my life and I still use the principles daily. Be true to yourself.
@JoLynn -
Chanting is a great way to cleanse our mind and to relieve toxic thoughts.
@Susan -
You are simply fabulous. You have so much to share that I learn and affirm my positive thoughts by reading your past experiences. Thank you for that.
Shilpan
Hi there Shilpan - it is interesting how we can be so careless in our choice of thoughts - even when we might know better!
It’s not always easy to acknowledge and deal with our feelings without going overboard and having excessive emotional reactions.
Another great post - Robin
Robin’s last blog post..Friday the 13th.
Excellent post-
As a physician I find that being well is very much linked to doing well. And part of doing well is most certainly linked with thinking well.
When you have pureness and desire for good in your heart it rings true. We can then just enjoy what we are doing on a moment to moment basis and forget about the results.
Blogging is like that don’t you think? Most people blog to put out good intentions. If you can focus on that and what inspires you then what to blog about becomes sooo easy. You just blog about what inspires you and people respond.
I will back for more. Thank you for reminding us how to live consciously.
Blessings
DrCason’s last blog post..Learning to Scuba Dive! Woo-Hoo!
I guess one of the main reason why I choose to stay in education and teach at an inner city school is that my profession has always allowed me to maintain balance between my inner goals with my outer goals and my inner reality with my outer reality.
Really deep stuff Shilpan…
chris’s last blog post..Goodbye My Sweet Prince and Princesses
@Robin -
I agree with you that we consciously know what to choose yet often we do not focus on the quality of thoughts that we choose.
@DrCason -
Welcome. Mahatma Gandhi used to say that love and truth are siblings and if you adopt them, you cannot get lost in this amazing life journey.
@Chris -
Teaching at the inner city schools is an admirable and noble passion. I admire you for that.
Shilpan
Shilpan, thank you for yet another great piece. I find that much of the apathy and anti-intellectualism in our society comes from the individual’s inability to exercise conscious thought and think for themselves. Media and government do not just take advantage of this - they cultivate it. We need to retrain ourselves to think for ourselves and live our lives on purpose.
Joel Falconer’s last blog post..Advertising on Your Blog: Choosing Revenue Sources
Dear Shilpan,
Wow! Great writing again. What you have said about acts of compassion is very true and is possible if there is inner wealth. What you have said about not expecting a return is what Krishna says in the Geeta, my personal guide-line in life. Thank you and God bless you.
Ayesha
Ayesha Parveen’s last blog post..for SHAYAAN
This post really shows how to get back on track.
It’s like connecting with our inner self. The tips that you have mentioned are all excellent especially tip #3 “Learn not to expect an outcome”.
Thanks for sharing.
Eugene Williams | Power of Motivation BLOG’s last blog post..The Power of Belief
Nice article, this is a challange that I’ve been working on for a while. I try to remember this teaching from Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. I think it’s a great achievement to understand the purpose of reckless driver.
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
Empty of its furniture,
Still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
For some new delight.