我們的頭腦如同繁忙的道路，充滿記憶、欲望、習慣，以及無數其他思緒，如川流不息的車輛。若缺乏有效的交通規則，道路將變得混亂和危險。同樣地，如果頭腦被雜亂的思緒所糾纏，我們的生活就無法安穩。因此，我們需要理解這些思緒，讓每次思考都可以專注於解決一個問題，這樣才能擁有平靜的心境。
通過觀察來源和去向，能夠平復情緒。思緒是情緒的源頭，所以我們可以用同樣的方法來理解它。我們可以將思緒想像成道路上的車輛，並將自己置於觀察者的位置。不評斷車輛的速度，只是記錄它們的動向，我們就能建立一套"交通規則"。這種規則是觀察者的意識，可以幫助我們對自己和環境進行反思，用有條理的思考取代雜亂的思緒。
例如，我們早上醒來，突然想起昨天晚上與伴侶的爭執，感到壓抑。我們運用上述方法，觀察這個思緒，尋找它的來源。我們回憶起爭執的原因，並意識到需要改善溝通方式。然後，我們停止對伴侶的懷疑或猜測，並專注於如何改善溝通，並平靜地與伴侶交談。
從上面的例子可以看到，雜亂的思緒都是被未完成的事情引發的，這反映我們心中仍有未解決的問題。如果不把這些問題處理好，這些思緒就會引起負面情緒，不斷干擾我們的思考。因此，當意識到一個新的思緒突然出現，我們第一步應該去了解它的內容。對於那些不著邊際的思緒，我們可以接受它，然後不再注意它。如果反映的問題比較重要，我們應該思考問題出現的原因和解決方法。透過對思緒的觀察、了解，進而思考和解決問題，我們就能避免出現更多雜亂的思緒，讓頭腦恢復平靜。
在觀察雜亂思緒的過程中，我們應該專注於了解，而不是評斷。如果我們評斷並偏向於某個思緒，例如認為"這個主意太棒了，我要採用它"，或認為"那個夢想太美好，我必須追求它"。這樣我們的思維或想像力將被帶到更遠、更虛幻的未來，並出現更多思緒或想像，對思緒的觀察也會停止。又或者我們認為"這個想法不道德，我不應該這樣想" 。這樣我們內心不同的道德觀念就會發生衝突。當我們的思維需要平息內在的衝突，觀察不僅無法繼續，還會出現更多的雜亂思緒。可見，無論我們贊成或反對某個思緒，都會阻礙觀察的進展，使心境變得混亂。
因此，對於雜亂的思緒，我們應該只當一個觀察者，而不應該跟隨它。這是因為，沒有跟隨任何思緒，意味著我們沒有目標需要達成，目標之間也就不會發生衝突。無分好事或壞事，我們也無須在好壞之間猶疑。衝突和猶疑都會消耗我們的生命力，干擾我們的觀察。只有透過收集訊息和提高意識，我們才能變得更加專注。
觀察雜亂的思緒，是為了更好地理解並應對我們所處的環境，因為對環境的誤解將對生活產生長期的影響。舉例來說，當我們從兩人之中選擇一個伴侶，如果不斷想像未來共同生活的情況，就會在猶疑中浪費時間，甚至作出錯誤的選擇。因為每個人都有優缺點，我們的想像將會放大某些特質，使選擇變得更難並且容易出錯。因此，我們應該專注於觀察，深入了解自己和別人。當我們意識到自己的情感傾向和真正的需要，才能理性地做出選擇。在上述例子中，我們最明智的決定可能是放棄選擇。這是因為，我們在兩個選項中選擇，就意味著兩者都不完全符合心意，無法建立身心一致的伴侶關係。這個例子也表明，準確理解雜亂的思緒，我們可以做出明智的決定。
如果帶著意識去觀察，我們將得到更多的意識。這可以幫助我們在混亂的環境中保持平靜，並強化我們應對環境的能力。足夠的意識讓我們專心思考，從而做出最有利的決定。當我們擁有觀察者的意識，並選擇觀察而不追逐思緒，我們的思維會變得更清晰。這樣，我們就可以看清楚自己的真正需要。不再受欲望的引誘，也不再被習慣束縛，我們就可以作出準確的選擇，並在最自由的狀態下行動。
89. 信賴是良好關係的基礎 (上一篇)
91. 尋找真正的自己 (下一篇)
The path to Tranquility (90)
Observing thoughts to discover and solve
problems
Our minds are like busy roads, the memories, desires, habits, and countless other thoughts, like a ceaseless stream of traffic. Without effective traffic rules, the road becomes chaotic and dangerous. Similarly, if our minds are entangled with distracting thoughts, our lives cannot be stable. Therefore, we need to understand these thoughts and focus on solving a problem every time we think, so that we can have a calm state of mind.
Emotions can be calmed by observing where they are coming from and where they are going. Thoughts are the source of emotions, so we can understand them in the same way. We can imagine thoughts as vehicles on the road and place ourselves in the position of observers. Without judging the speed of the vehicles, just recording their movements, we can establish a set of "traffic rules". These rules are the consciousness of the observer, which can help us reflect on ourselves and the environment, and replace distracting thoughts with organized thinking.
For example, we wake up in the morning and suddenly remember the argument with our partner last night, feeling depressed. We use the above method, observe this thought, and look for its source. We recall the cause of the argument and realize that we need to improve our communication methods. We then stop doubting or guessing about our partner, and focus on how to then improve communication, and talk to our partner calmly.
From the above example, it can be seen that distracting thoughts are all triggered by unfinished things, reflecting that there are still unresolved problems in our hearts. If these problems are not handled well, these thoughts will cause negative emotions and constantly interfere with our thinking. Therefore, when we realize that a new thought suddenly appears, our first step should be to understand its content. For those irrelevant thoughts, we can accept it and then no longer pay attention to it. If the problem reflected is more important, we should think about the cause of the problem and the solution. Through the observation, understanding our thoughts, and then thinking about and solving the problem, we can avoid the appearance of more distracting thoughts and restore calmness to our minds.
In the process of observing distracting thoughts, we should focus on understanding, not judging. If we judge and lean towards a certain thought, such as thinking "this idea is too good, I want to adopt it", or thinking "that dream is too beautiful, I must pursue it". In this way, our thinking or imagination will be taken to a farther and more illusory future, and more thoughts or imaginations will appear, and the observation of thoughts will stop. Or we think "this idea is immoral, I shouldn't think so". In this way, different moral values in our hearts will conflict. When our thinking needs to calm down internal conflicts, not only does the observation cannot continue, but more distracting thoughts will appear. It can be seen that whether we agree or oppose with a certain thought, it will hinder the progress of observation and make the state of mind confused.
Therefore, for distracting thoughts, we should only be an observer and should not follow it. This is because, without following any thoughts, it means that we have no goals to achieve, and there will be no conflicts between goals. There is no good or bad thing, we don't need to hesitate between good and bad. Conflict and hesitation will consume our vitality and interfere with our observation. Only through gathering information and raising consciousness can we become more focused.
Observing distracting thoughts is to better understand and cope with our environment, because misunderstandings of the environment will have a long-term impact on life. For example, when we choose a partner from two people, if we keep imagining the situation of living together in the future, we will waste time in hesitation and even make the wrong choice. Because everyone has advantages and disadvantages, our imagination will magnify certain qualities, making choices more difficult and prone to errors. Therefore, we should focus on observation and deeply understand ourselves and others. When we realize our emotional tendencies and real needs, we can make rational choices. In the above example, our wisest decision may be to give up the choice. This is because, when we choose between two options, it means that neither of them fully meets our hearts, and we cannot establish the partner relationship with a consistent of body and mind. This example also shows that by accurately understanding the distracting thoughts, we can make wise decisions.
If we observe with consciousness, we will gain more consciousness. This can help us stay calm in a chaotic environment and enhance our ability to cope with the environment. Sufficient consciousness allows us to concentrate on thinking and make the most beneficial decisions. When we have the consciousness of the observer and choose to observe instead of chasing thoughts, our thinking will become clearer. In this way, we can see our true needs clearly. No longer tempted by desires, no longer bound by habits, we can make accurate choices and act in the freest state.
On August 3, 2023
留言
發佈留言