Wednesday 13 November 2019

ART OF THINKING FOR BETTER LIFE

ART OF THINKING 


Art of Thinking 

For Better Life


Art of Thinking
THINKING EFFECTIVELY


THINKING EFFECTIVELY
THINKING EFFECTIVELY

Art of Thinking


Meaning of thinking as given in the dictionary is a process of considering or reasoning about some thing.

Thinking is a natural function characteristic of mind. 

This process of thinking by mind  is a continuous one  regarding the world being perceived and the relations with others. 

The art of thinking for better life
 A LABORER
The art of thinking for better life
A TIRED LABORER
A worker is compensated with a meager daily earning, though facing risk of accidents.


The art of thinking for better life


A speaker is compensated with an honorarium.

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The art of thinking for better life


A professional thinker gets  annul package of millions though working in an air conditioned corporate environment. 

Art of Thinking


Our sense organs cannot be expected to stop their function, for whatever reasons. Similarly,our mind cannot be expected to stop thinking. Because thinking is a continuous natural process except while in sleep.

Experts have estimated that the mind is engaged in thinking about 70,000 thoughts a day.  The average works out to around 3000 thoughts per hour. 

The art of thinking for better life
TOO MUCH THINKING !


Art of Thinking


The origin of thoughts may be interests, attaining vested interests, judging objects and relations, planning and proper planning, coordination of the resources for execution and so on. 

Besides, there are thoughts which are  good for nothing. Or thoughts which are harmful not only to the individual but also to the human kind.

The guiding force in this entire process is the mind which uses the five sense organs as means to perceive the world around that includes objects and relationships.

The  main factor that activates this process is the basic instincts of life ie food, sleep, survival and procreation.

And the intensity of thinking depends on the importance given to the above basic instincts. Take for example, food.  There are vegetarian, non-vegetarian and vegan foods. We also know that there are different types of cuisines depending on the geographical locations.  And the modifications and additions is a continuous process.

The art of thinking for better life
VEGETARIAN FOOD
The art of thinking for better life
NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD

The art of thinking for better life
VEGAN FOOD
The next stage is achieving vested interests. Consider a case of bank robbery or for that matter any criminal plot.  We can imagine how much planning work is involved - and of course, the required thinking.

When we hear some thing about criminal plots, we can imagine the extent to which the process of thinking is involved, not only by criminal elements but also the law enforcing agencies.

The art of thinking for better life
CRIMINAL PLOT

Art of Thinking 


The further stage is seeking,expressing and sharing happiness in life. Our most of the thinking process is aimed at this achievement.

The art of thinking for better life
 SEEKING, FEELING, EXPRESSING AND SHARING HAPPINESS

The Art of Thinking 

We  human being always seek happiness in life.  Unfortunately we are unaware of the significance of discovering happiness in small little things in life.

Naturally, for seeking happiness, lot of thinking is involved besides the hard work and personal sacrifices as also time factor involved. 

And  feeling of happiness, expressing, and sharing with our near and dear ones leads to achieving our fulfillment in life.

The art of thinking for better life
HAPPINESS EXPRESSED AND SHARED

Art of Thinking 

Readers can easily recall the experience of having palpitation even at the thought of suddenly seeing, speaking and touching the opposite gender friend, who had a special status in their heart. And yes, that was treated as the most romantic feelings !

But as we grow in age, this palpitation is interpreted in a different way. And it can have health implications.

Why  the art of thinking deserves importance in our life?

By developing and applying this art of thinking one can live  better life.

I remember while I was learning motor driving, we were four students of various ages, teenage to a senior person in his sixties.  Initially we were very tense.  On the first day, I could see sweat drops tickling down the back of the neck of each student driver.  Even I felt all my muscles tensed and sweat tickling down on the back of my neck.  But after a few sessions, we picked up the ease and comfort to be able to converse normally with one other and the instructor.

Similarly, while learning riding a bicycle, initially we feel it is the bicycle that is riding us. But gradually we learn to ride and control the bicycle with ease and command.

This is typically learning a skill that becomes perfect with practice.

If we understand any process we are concerned, with error and trial, we  develop a skill for that.  And application of such well developed perfect skill enables accomplishment of the process in an efficient, flawless and a smooth manner that too with ease and comfort. It becomes as good as a reflex action.

Having realized the significance of  need to developing  skill of optimum thinking,  ie neither too much nor too less,  applying the same in own life is an art of thinking.

Art of Thinking 

Thinking  needs a lot of energy and one gets exhausted too much. Therefore, we must take care to avoid unnecessary thoughts for saving  mind energy.

The unnecessary thoughts are mostly related to our own past and future.  The thoughts related to the past are comparisons and complaints and those related to the future are worries.

If these thoughts are avoided and mind allowed to get engaged only to the present, huge energy is saved that could be applied in fruitful thinking. Additionally, peace of mind is assured.

Another aspect is that different thoughts come in mind one after the other.  To avoid this, the method of concentration is advised.  While concentrating, our mind is engaged only with the concentrated object.

The art of thinking for better life
CONCENTRATION

Art of Thinking 

Continuous engagement of mind in thinking leads to agitation of mind.  And agitated mind has negative impact on physical health. This leads to concerns for our near and dear ones also.

Therefore,while giving importance to own physical health we must equally be cautious of our mental health.

Our mind is cluttered with so many thoughts which are useless, aimless, unnecessary, undesired and load of burden.  Therefore, we must remove all such burden on our mind.

The art of thinking for better life
CLUTTERED THINGS
For this reason, we must take de-cluttering action regularly so that our mind is not engaged in unnecessary thinking process. And thus ensure that our mind is clean, light, healthy and free. 

Therefore, it becomes important to develop  the art of thinking for better life.


The art of thinking for better life
Too much thinking ?


For this, we must try to -
  • provide rest and relief to our mind
The art of thinking for better life
Real Freedom

  • minimize our thought process
The art of thinking for better life
Is it necessary to think on this topic?

  • find the ways and means to ensure we have peace of mind.

The art of thinking for better life
PEACE OF MIND

  • stop any thoughts entering our mind.
For this, chanting of mantras is advised. 

The art of thinking for better life
ROSARY *

Art of Thinking

I was once listening to a discourse on YouTube by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswatiji explaining the method of chanting of God's name.

Chanting of God's name should be like enjoying a chocolate, he said. 

While speaking on the art of thinking, he gave analogy of  chewing a chocolate.  We enjoy it. And we do not simply eat it. Like chocolate, we should enjoy chanting name of God.  He even demonstrated right method of chanting.  He explained that after reciting once, when a thought tries to enter our mind, we should chant the name of God again.  Any thought is thus prevented from entering our mind.   By practice, the duration of 'no thoughts in mind'  can be increased gradually. 


The significance is that by this practice, energy of mind is saved considerably that can be made available for fruitful essential thinking. 

Also this optimum activity enables our mind to become alert, more active, full of enthusiasm that further enables  utilizing vast potentials of our mind.

Another method suggested by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswaitji was to stop using words while thinking and see what happens.  I tried and found that mind instantly becomes empty. It is very surprising. Try it!

  • meditation is another effective way wherein one reaches the stage of no mind no thoughts. As explained by Swami Anubhavanand Saraswatiji, meditation should happen and no efforts should be needed for that.
The art of thinking for better life
MEDITATION THAT HAPPENS, NOT DONE !

Now, having understood the basic idea of the art of thinking and its significant potentiality to achieve a better life, it is in our own interest to develop and implement the same in practice to realize better life, before advising about it to others.

And we must not forget that simply reading and learning is not enough !

Because learning from experience is wisdom.  And such wisdom if not practiced and simply advised to others turns in to philosophy which is just worth discussing.


Art of Thinking 


Dear readers, I am sure, you must have found this article significant and helpful. And that you, having learnt about this, may find further your own ways to apply the same on the path of desired transformation in life.

And this learning and practicing wisdom in life is a continuous process. 

Next time ........


NOTE ;  ALL PHOTOGRAPHS EXCEPT MARKED * COURTSEY : pxhere.com




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