Thoughts Create All Kinds Of Inner Demands

**Note: Truth does not always sound pleasant. If the mind is not really peaceful now, it might not be a perfect moment to listen to this podcast, one has to be aware of the emotions or reactions that can block one from listenING ATTENTIVELY and with HUMILITY. This talk is a meditation practice. What one needs to do is listen attentively, without getting stuck in words, examine the mind in silence, not agree or disagree, just look at the mind as it is. Doing so is already part of true meditation.

Transcript

Every year,

We celebrate the New Year,

All kinds of festivals.

The atmosphere from all kinds of festivals are very strong,

Bringing about all kinds of stimulation to the mind,

As the mind feels bored.

So,

If one looks closely at the life one is living,

One must find out this life is full of all kinds of demand.

This demand comes from the thoughts,

Thoughts creating all kinds of concepts,

Ideas,

What should be,

What should not be.

And also,

Time is thought,

The New Year as time,

As a concept,

Bringing about this atmosphere.

We don't condemn thoughts,

But if you look at it carefully,

Just observe it objectively,

It is indeed some thoughts.

Thoughts also bring about all kinds of demand,

And to some extent,

The life is guided by thoughts.

I need to do this,

I should do that,

I want to have that,

I want to be that,

I shouldn't do this,

I don't like that.

Life is full of this inner demand from thoughts.

To meditate,

That's to really inquire into ourselves,

Is to look at all those demands objectively.

Can I live life without getting lost in those demands?

Can I be aware of all the thoughts,

The movement of thoughts,

To be aware of the content of the consciousness,

Which is me?

All this awareness,

The life is being carried away by thoughts,

By the reactions arising from the thoughts,

By the perceptions modified by thoughts.

And life is totally lost in the river of this consciousness.

Can one observe this in one's life?