Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Mind Control

You are responsible for what you think because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice.
(A Course in Miracles)

Thoughts are streaming from the sub-conscious level into your awareness. Sometimes you seemingly wake up and say, "Hey, where did this gone from?" and sometimes you don't even notice how your conscious thoughts build on the initial spark from deep below and somehow you think this train of thought has been of your own doing.

We somehow think that we are in charge, yet a lot happens below the surface and we just take ex-post ownership of the idea. Consider this psychological experiment. Some people were hypnotized and told that sometime during an upcoming business meeting they should get up and water the plants in the conference room. That's exactly what they did at the surprise of their colleagues. When they were asked afterwards why they did what they did they gave responses like " Well, the plants suddenly looked thirsty."  There was not a single person who said, "I haven't the faintest clue why this happened to me."

We all think that we are in charge, yet we are probably much less so than we think. There are some who claim that with a lot of awareness we can somehow control our thoughts. I am not sure about that. What we can do, however, we can influence the stream of thoughts that come bubbling up from the depth of our being.  When we mentally embrace thoughts that pop up, and especially when afterwards we engage in this activity, we will give energy to this theme and more associated thoughts, memories and impressions will bubble to the surface. The Course in Miracles writes, "You are much too tolerant of mind wandering." You find our how much influence you have over the voice your head. You certainly don't own it, but the voice in your head also doesn't own you.

As you walk a spiritual path you have more choices to guide your life into a spiritually meaningful direction. This and only this will slowly redirect the stream of thoughts in a direction that you will appreciate. Yet, spiritual travelers have the problem that they don't want to face certain traces in themselves, the greed, the lust, the competition, the anger. We block this stuff out and then seem surprised if the stuff bubbles to the surface nevertheless. Deal with the stuff that just refuses to go away. You will find an answer to all your struggles.
That's what a spiritual path is all about. To find answers and to make everything that happens in your life spiritually kosher.

Thoughts will naturally become less chaotic as you travel a spiritual path. This is not because you have become a superior person, it is because a spiritual path encourages you to declutter your life. Things that were harmful for your soul development before you no longer can do as the associated pain just becomes too much to bear. As you become simpler and more straightforward in all your dealings, the thoughts that bubble to the surface also become easier to deal with. A spiritual path is a lesson in perceiving as much as in doing. You perceive love in your thoughts and deeds just as you recognize the lack of it. Mind control may not be possible but awareness is and there always is a freedom of choice somewhere. Recognize this choice in everything you see, think and do. The one spiritual law you can always count on, when you encounter love, know that you have chosen well.

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