How to regard intrusive, unwanted images or thoughts in meditation?

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
alfa
Posts: 433
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:43 pm
Location: India

Re: How to regard intrusive, unwanted images or thoughts in meditation?

Post by alfa »

There is another way to look at this whole thing.

Karma will be worked out, like it or not. Outside certain events are gonna happen, affecting us. Inside certain thoughts are gonna arise, affecting us.

Meaning, we cannot stop the thoughts any more than we can stop the events from occurring, since they are both fruits of karma and must be experienced. So we let them occur, suffer, and move on.

Maybe, this is why buddha said no self. Because if we accept there is no self, then we make no unwanted effort....
Saengnapha
Posts: 1350
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:17 am

Re: How to regard intrusive, unwanted images or thoughts in meditation?

Post by Saengnapha »

alfa wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:18 pm There is another way to look at this whole thing.

Karma will be worked out, like it or not. Outside certain events are gonna happen, affecting us. Inside certain thoughts are gonna arise, affecting us.

Meaning, we cannot stop the thoughts any more than we can stop the events from occurring, since they are both fruits of karma and must be experienced. So we let them occur, suffer, and move on.

Maybe, this is why buddha said no self. Because if we accept there is no self, then we make no unwanted effort....
The thoughts that come up as emotional reactions to experience (kamma) are the habitual reactions that each of us create. These create future kamma, don't you think? Turning away from these thoughts which are emotional reactions and habitual, we exchange them for beneficial ways of thinking and acting in accord with Dhamma. This is how we stop being selfish. It sounds simplistic but it is very fundamental and brings us into a different way of acting, no longer creating any harm to ourselves or others. This prepares the ground for sotapanna.
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