Is the best way to not think bad thoughts to not 'think'; ie to concentrate?

Question

(The breath does it for me, so far).

Answer 1

Normally the Mind isn't still, it's moving all the time, it lacks strength. Making the Mind strong and making the body strong are not the same. Making the body strong we must excercise it, push it to make it strong. To make the Mind strong we must make it peaceful, to not go thinking of this and that.

For most of us the Mind has never been peaceful, it has never had the energy of Samadhi (the state of concentrated calm resulting from meditation practise).

If we force our breath to be either too long or too short, we're not balanced the Mind won't become peaceful. When following the breath, we don't get concerned over whether it is too long or too short, we just let it be, following the natural breathing.

When it's balanced, we take the breathing as our Meditation object. When we breath in we note the Path of the breath, the beginning is at the nose tip, the middle is at the chest and the end is at the abdomen. When we breath out we note the beginning is at the abdomen, the middle is at the chest and the end is at the nose tip. We take note of these 3 points, the nose tip, the chest and the abdomen, concentrating on them alone to make the mind firm, to limit mental activity so that Mindfulness and self awareness can arise easily.

When we are adept at noting these 3 points, we can let them go and concentrate solely on the nose tip or upper lip where the breath passes in and out on its path, just establish Mindfulness in front of us at this point, noting the breath pass entering - leaving, entering - leaving.

There's no need to think of anything special, just concentrate on this simple task for now, having continuous presence of Mind. Soon the MInd becomes peaceful, the breath refined. The Mind and Body become light. This is the right state for work on meditation.

There is mental activity happening during Meditation Practise. At the stage above, the First Jhana, there are 5 mental factors happening, and weak mental impressions arise, as the other Jhana's are experienced, these factors (absorptions) are discarded.

I hope that this helps you understand a little about what is happening in the Mind when you Meditate. Bad thoughts are not eliminated during meditation, but if during the stages before the first Jhana they are intruding, it means that you are not concentrating fully on the breath properly and may be forcing your Mind out of balance. Balance of the Breath is the key and concentration on the object of the practise is the method.

Good luck with your practise

Peace from a Buddhist....

Answer 2

concentrate on only the things you want. You have to have a huge imagination, like when you were a kid. Then you will be attracting those types of things to you. On the other hand, if you constantly think about the things you dont want, you will end up getting those things because you are thinking about it.

No one can control your thoughts. BUT YOU!!! YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU. YOU!!! No Deity, no god, no church, not even your kids or parents, you buddy. You know right from wrong right? Then do you need people telling you how to live?


If you like, I can email you some books or you can go download them for a nominal fee.

(breathing exercises are good too. I have a book called the science of breath)

Answer 3

If I have understood correctly what you have said, it sounds that you are practicing meditation. Watching the breath as an aid to concentration should help slow down the thought process - at least whilst you are doing it. Off the cushion / stool / chair, it isn't as easy as you interact with the world. A daily meditation practice will help, but you have to help it along! We "consume" all the time. TV, radio, conversations: if these sources of communication include violence, slander, hatred etc, it will affect our minds. I assume by "bad" thoughts, you mean negative emotions. These will reduce if you reduce your intake of negativity. If you haven't already, I suggest that you join a meditation group.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

A good exercise to help with bad thoughts or temptations that have a grip on you is to learn Romans ch 6 by heart. Anytime you feel tempted or can not dispel bad thoughts-just recite Romans 6. It works every time.

Answer 6

I can't stop thinking. Maybe I'm just rude, but I think if you can cease all thoughts, then there weren't many to start off with

as for concentration, it depends on what you're concentrating on and how long your attention span is. it's best to think about what is good, pure, lovely, just, etc....

Answer 7

The breath is good... it is a wave of energy entering the body, consider your mental energy and what sort of waves you might be able to create with it, within the body. Bad thoughts should be washed away and good ones focused on thy brain centre with increased amplitude and form.

Answer 8

Meditate

Answer 9

The best way to not think bad thoughts is to think good thoughts.

Answer 10

The best way is to place your attention on a "good thought". Embrace it, breath it in, let it absorb into you.