The thoughts in your head are not made by you.

submitted by [deleted] from self.unpopularopinion

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[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

We do, but our thoughts are controlled by something else. The conclusion is obvious: to be free, one need only not ever think.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

Well, you're getting there.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Stream of consciousness?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

Query unclear.

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I guess I was going for more of the information either. I remember Tom Petty talking about tapping into the stream of consciousness when he was writing songs; like there was a "river" out there full of songs that he could pull out. There is an idea that consciousness is a collective.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Consciousness is only individual. Some people confuse soul and consciousness but they are utterly separate and different. Animals are souls but do not have consciousness. Humans have sleeping consciousness hypnotized by their soul's conditioning. And soul can definitely be collective. A bank of fish for example has a collective soul. Herd animals too. And humans? Yes, humans' souls can be very collective, but their consciousness can also awaken and dissociate from the collective, turning the human into an individual.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Welcome to Buddhism.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Except Buddhism has never solved the question: how to not think. Buddhism is very cute, and wise, but lacks science.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Methodology is very simple conceptually: meditate. "Not thinking" isn't something that comes immediately, it comes over time with the daily practice. And there is still an ebb and a flow (some days are good, some are bad).

You might quibble on the definition of "thinking", but I think it's fair to say that putting your attention in a nondifferentiated state where the focus is away from the things that cause human suffering is close enough for the purposes of this discussion.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yes, I know all about Buddhism, even the Zen variety. The problem is that it produces only superficial "enlightenment" and not actual Supramental Consciousness. That is the real end goal of human mental evolution.

Buddhist "enlightenment" is a trap. But for people like you, it's the pinnacle that can be attained, so you might as well work your way towards that.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Since you trotted out the "people like you" bit -- and I am very aware of what you mean -- I will point out that I have a great deal more self-discipline and self-control than a morbidly obese man who cannot stop himself from eating himself into oblivion. But you be you.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thank you for proving my point. Welcome to my blocked list.