Wednesday, January 11, 2017

2 types of "thinking"

There are two types of "thinking" or "thought". Ordinary people's (ego's) "thinking" or "thought" always causes separation, discrimination, or the duality. However, the enlightened person's (awareness's) "thinking" or "thought" never causes separation, discrimination, or the duality. That's why ordinary people easily misunderstand it. The difference is whether it is based on notions or not. 

In order to avoid misunderstanding I call "thinking" or "thought" which is not based on notions, "insight". Insight is in other word Right View, Wisdom, or Understanding. That's why we can generate love and compassion if we understand the root cause of suffering through insight. If we are mindful and concentrated, we can always attain insight.

So, if the thought is a byproduct of seeing and reflecting the reality as it is, I call it insight. In other words, if the thought is directly linked to the senses without passing through feelings and perceptions (series of notions in the head), I call it insight. (Actually in this direct thinking case, Thay still uses the word "thinking" or "thought". He calls it Right Thinking.)

Anyway, this world is the object of our mind, namely our mind because of the projection of mind. So, the key is whether our mind is calm and clear or not. If our mind is calm and clear, it can reflect the outside reality as it is, and it can see through the inside reality as it is. But if our mind is not calm and not clear, it can not reflect the outside reality as it is, and it can not see through the inside reality as it is. That's why we need to stop and purify our mind.

(Cf.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014NYEP04

image of insight

image of thinking