Right thinking is part of the Buddhist teachings, sometimes referred to as right intention. There's a lot of weight given to it because thinking is strongly influenced by motives and leads directly to subsequent actions. Right thinking leads to right action. In the Bible it says, "The human race is subject to three kinds of sin, for when we sin, it is either by thought, or word, or deed" (Ezekiel 43:23), and since both words and deeds depend on the thought processes which precede them, it seems only right to spend time considering and developing right thinking.
People tend to have great expectations of right thinking, believing that if we have mastered right thinking, that in itself will lead to fulfillment, peace and stability in our lives. It will not. Life is full of pain and suffering. Embracing the idea that if we change our thoughts we can avoid pain and suffering sets us up for disappointment. And yet, while we can't avoid the pain that life dishes out, right thinking can help us stop dwelling on our misfortunes, adding more pain to our situation and causing others pain.
But what is right thinking? What does that look like in the wild, so to speak? I'm not completely sure. Some sources speak of a focus on facts, truth, compassion, and reason rather than a focus on emotion. I think it also needs to be based on honesty and discernment. Right thinking seems to involve looking at the reality of each moment as it is (in as much as we are able) rather than how we wish it to be. Letting go of what we think we "know" allows our mind to consider rather than ignore what we see.
I find it both tiring and exhilarating to consider everything all the time. It is comforting to be certain of things and unsettling to be uncertain. Yet it is also exhilarating to see new things and find connections and learn new things, so there are benefits to an open mind that a closed mind cannot experience. The most amazing one is when we suddenly realize that we've been acting rather like a wasp bonking itself industriously against a screen when there is a whole universe we could be exploring.
We humans tend to want to impress ourselves on the world around us, to stamp our thoughts and understanding on every thought or concept that we encounter. It is the nature of human thought. Yet this instinct to personalize everything paradoxically makes us less ourselves and less free, as it means we can't see the reality of the world we live in, and thus it renders us less able to grow. It is a small death.
I find that I need to balance my need for safety and security against my need for growth, action and change. I'm not always sure what that entails but I think being aware of my biases and the truth of my situation is definitely a good starting point. Also being careful to see reality and be honest with myself is helpful. It helps to let go of the idea of "succeeding" in life, recognizing that achieving existence is enough and that has already been accomplished. It's enough to be present in each moment with the intention of doing right by others and the world, treating others with kindness, and conducting myself with humility. Right thinking is less about perfection than it is about learning from experience, growth and humility.
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