Power Of Thoughts

The power of thoughts begins with understanding that thought is not always the ultimate solution. Sadhguru explains how existence is bigger than thought, and what others think of you has no existential relevance to you. Generating thought allows you to create powerful and physical situations but does not put you closer to the ultimate because it only has social and psychological relevance to life.

Transcript

In this country right now we have this phenomena of the positive thinking,

You know,

That our whole existence is created by the way that we think.

And you said earlier that there were so many things that were involved in the creative process and our creative experience.

Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

One is responsible for their circumstances based on their thinking process,

How they think solely.

So how you think,

See,

In these cultures definitely you have given too much significance to your thought process,

Too much.

It's the western philosophers who went to this extreme,

You know,

One of the,

I think,

The Renaissance philosophers said,

I think so I exist.

So that is the level of significance you've given for thought.

But you tell me,

From your own simple sense you tell me,

Which is true?

Is it because you exist you think or is it because you think you exist?

Because you exist you think,

Isn't it?

Because you have not known life any other way except thinking,

Now you have made it all important.

Now for me there is no thought.

If I simply sit here,

I will sit here without a single thought on my mind.

Does it mean I'm not existing?

I'm existing,

Absolutely existing.

Because I'm existing in such a powerful way,

Thought is just a small happening for me.

My thought is just a small happening for me in my life.

I can think.

It's not that I'm incapable of thinking.

I can think.

But still it is a very small happening because my existence is far,

Far bigger than my thought.

Now people are trying to make their thought far bigger than their existence.

This whole positive thinking in the 60s,

70s,

A few people made it very popular.

You know,

Big names.

Most all of them.

Either they went neurotic,

They broke up mentally and ended up in mental asylums or they committed suicide because it's bound to happen.

If you stretch the intellect beyond a certain point,

You will crack up.

You'll definitely crack up.

So thought being so important is a very unhealthy way to approach life.

Hopefully it'll give you the thrill because you can create a few things with your thought.

See if you generate a powerful thought,

You can make certain things happen.

You can have a certain power over other people and situations.

This will give you a high,

But it is not an ultimate solution to life.

You may be effective in the world,

But within yourself you're still a mess.

What is the point?

What is the point?

Right now that's what you're doing with… See with education and other things your thought is developed to some extent.

You're effective in the world.

You can do things efficiently.

You can earn money,

You can be successful.

Everybody thinks you're great,

But you're a mess within yourself.

This is happening to lots of so-called successful people,

Isn't it so?

Yes?

You see all the stars in the world,

The whole world worships them and they think they are great,

But most of them are just breaking down,

Isn't it?

Being good,

You want to be… you want to look good in ten people's eyes,

That's not going to change the experience of your life.

If you sit here,

You're absolutely blissful.

This is what changes the experience of your life.

What somebody else thinks about you,

Why is it so important?

Or what you think about yourself,

Why is it so important?

Whatever you think about yourself,

Whatever the whole world thinks about it's… about you,

Has no existential relevance.

Whatever you're thinking right now has no existential relevance.

It is only psychological relevance,

Maybe social relevance,

But no existential relevance,

Isn't it so?

Can I tell you a joke?

Are you okay?

Any kind of joke?

No.

Once it happened,

Pope died,

Not this one,

Previous one.

Pope died and naturally he went to heaven.

He came to the gates of heaven,

There Saint Peter sitting on a tall security stool,

Smoking a Cuban cigar.

It's not banned there.

Looked at this man who came with a strange cap and all that,

He looked at him and said,

Who are you,

He blew a plume of smoke into Pope's face and asked,

Who are you?

Pope was aghast,

How dare you talk to me like this?

You don't know who I am?

I am the Pope.

Okay man,

Every day all kinds of people come with tall stories,

You have a tall cap too,

It's all right.

Tell me who are you?

He said,

I am the Pope.

How dare you talk to me like this?

I am God's representative on the planet.

Peter looked at him and said,

Okay,

Move on.

Not this way,

Not near the gate.

He said,

Move on.

He said,

How dare you say this to me?

I am God's representative,

You ask him if you want.

Peter said,

All right,

He raised his voice.

He raised his voice and said,

Hey boss,

There is somebody here who claims to be your representative on the planet,

His name is Pope,

Do you know him?

A grave voice from inside said,

I do not know anyone like that.

Boss doesn't know you,

Move on.

Pope was,

What is this?

He was distraught.

How can this be?

How can the old man say he doesn't know me?

Oh,

It must be Alzheimer's.

Okay you do one thing,

You ask Jesus,

He knows,

He knows I am his representative on the planet.

Peter said okay and he raised his voice and said,

Hey sonny,

There is somebody here who claims to be your representative on the planet,

His name is Pope,

Do you know him?

A gentle voice from inside said,

I do not know anyone like that.

Sonny doesn't know you,

Enough man,

Move on.

I heard enough from you.

By now Pope was totally,

How can this be?

They are not letting him enter the heaven after being a Pope.

He said,

Well you asked the Holy Ghost,

He knows me.

I am his representative on the planet.

Peter once again raised his voice and said,

Hey spooky,

There is somebody here who claims to be your representative on the planet,

His name is Pope,

Do you know him?

A mischievous voice from inside said,

Ah,

Pope,

Is he here?

He's the one who spread all those malicious stories about me and Mary,

Don't you let him in.

What you think,

You can think whatever you want,

I can think whatever I want,

The whole world can think something about me.

It has no existential relevance,

It has only psychological and social relevance.

So when we say a spiritual process,

We are talking about an existential dimension,

Not a psychological dimension,

Not a social dimension.

So with thought,

If you generate a certain amount of powerful thought,

You can create certain life situations around you,

But with that you cannot know the ultimate,

But there is something within you which wants to expand and know,

Isn't it?

How much ever comfort you provide,

How much ever well-being you provide from outside,

There is something within you which will not settle.

There is something within you which will not settle.

It is just,

You may avoid it,

You may avoid it by watching the television,

You may avoid it by going to the movies,

You may avoid it by reading a book,

You may avoid it in conversation with somebody,

That's why you keep yourself so busy,

Just to avoid it.

But if you sit down for some time and just look at your life,

You will see everything feels empty and you want to do something else.

It's always there.

Either you address it or you don't address it,

But it's always there.

You can use your thought to create physical situations,

But you cannot existentially move on by using thought because it has only psychological and social relevance to life.

Reviews

Fabulous, JOYful and thought provoking, right sizing the mind and thought! Such a refreshing perspective! www.gratefulness.org, ahimsa

This is one of my favorites. Love it every time I listen to it.

Very good talk, real insight.

Great thoughts on thinking.

Wonderful, definitely food for thought. 🤗

Amazing talk👌 Sadhguru💚!
I like all your talks. You're just amazing. You're very right...the thoughts of others are without any relevance. To me is important what I create in my life. I'm my creator💃

Lovely. The process of examining thoughts vs. Understanding. And of course that joke, too.

Insightful & made me want to hear more of your guidance on the topic. Left me wanting to hear more. Enjoyed the joke, great way to make your point.😇🙏

One of my favorite teachings so far. It's a relief to hear these words on thoughts and their significance or lack thereof!

Thank you. Great stuff. I found this really useful and thought provoking (ironically!) Being a Madperson, the experience of my own thoughts presents more challenges than I can surmount. This helped me readdress the balance and understand that my thoughts might be no more than a distraction. Powerful stuff. I will return to this again. Thank you for the gift. And the humour!

Wonderful way to begin the day. Great message as always.
Thank you. 🦋

Brilliant talk!! He is a genius,his humour and understanding of life is amazing. Love him
🙏🙏