Jesus and Ghandi advocated thought control (your own thoughts!) as a way to stop the immoral at the source, but I personally cannot manage to practice this principle, even though I really would like to.
2007-04-06 12:42:55 · 9 answers · asked by firefromabustedgun 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Can you condition yourself though really? If you are being conditioned by others then the ethics I referr to in my question are undermined anyway...
2007-04-06 12:50:21 · update #1
"Anyone who looks upon a woman lustfull has already committed adultery with her in his heart"
Was Jesus right in saying this?
2007-04-07 01:42:44 · update #2
to me, to control the thought, means to grasp it, analze it, and make a decision about it, if action is needed,,,,, so our thought control plays a major role in our moral actions,,,,,,,, even if you think you are doing something just because you should,,, even if you think you would really rather do something else, within you is the thought that you should behave a certain way,,,,, its in there with the other thought of what you really think you want to do,,,,,, so by doing the moral action, you are letting that thought take over,,,,,,
the real thought control takes place when you alter the defintion of the thoughts, when the "right " thing becomes what you want to do,,,,, when the "wrong thing " doesnt come to mind, or when you see it as something you dont wish to act on
2007-04-06 13:25:10 · answer #1 · answered by dlin333 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to learn thought control, start meditating. The first stage of meditation is learning how to be aware of the present moment as it is happening; no lingering or after thoughts about the future/past. Once you can do this for several minutes, the 2nd stage is working on muting your internal monologue and silently being in the moment of now. These two stages along will help you greatly in thought control. Good luck!
2007-04-06 14:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by neuralzen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. All thoughts should flow through your mind as a market place of ideas. But, it is up to you to pick and choose. We are the sum of our life, the expression of our whole past unto the first generation. All of which has brought to bear the forces that shape and mold our minds, our will, and our perceptions. We can only choose among the choices that we perceive as presented to us. These choices are seldom of our own making alone. Thus it is that we interact with the universe to obey its bidding because we can do nothing else. It is the way we are made. And it leaves us with a certain amount of sadness.
2007-04-06 14:31:10 · answer #3 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Despite belief and worship, thought control is not possible. But control of your thoughts is. Get it? You can't stop yourself from saying someone of some ethnicity is always stealing cars and shooting people, but you can stop yourself from saying it. You can't stop yourself from thinking the Muslims as a whole are to blame for hating America, but you can stop yourself from joining the Army to kill a Muslim or a few dozen.
We can't control our thoughts. The Media makes sure of it. With the lies we are constantly fed, our thoughts are driven around and around. It's the logical folks that can notice a difference between thoughts of emotions and thoughts of actions.
2007-04-06 13:45:47 · answer #4 · answered by no name brand canned beans 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible. It is called brainwashing. Or if done by the person him/herself, it is called mind programming. Buddha recommended it: "You are what you think".
Is it desirable though, or always necessary? Sometimes you can nurture dirty thoughts but manage to submit them to katharctic processes before turning them into facts. The thought is a mere fraction of what the action supposes (millions of thoughts that build it altogether).
2007-04-06 13:23:37 · answer #5 · answered by Goldmund 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends upon the source of the thought. It is more possible to control and stop merely a habit or more complex desire, than a natural urge such as lust or hunger.
2007-04-06 12:47:46 · answer #6 · answered by Cosmonaut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't resist a thought you don't want. Accept it the thought and let it remain there as long as it must but ignore it, when you push it it only comes closer in your face. Accept the thought and it'll have no power. And eventually it will fall away.
2007-04-06 12:47:27 · answer #7 · answered by Answerer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People can be conditioned into thinking, acting and reacting a certain way and thus I would have to answer yes.
2007-04-06 12:47:51 · answer #8 · answered by SiberianTigerX 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that psychology has shown us that thought control is at least possible.
2007-04-06 12:58:22 · answer #9 · answered by sokrates 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋