Thoughts often seem like our enemy. Many spiritual traditions make a lot of noise about thoughts. "Be mindful. Notice your thoughts. Shoo away your negative thoughts. Control your mind. Resist getting lost in your thoughts." I personally have admitted to being a thoughtaholic, which insinuates that thoughts are toxic things that addict us. It certainly feels that way! Thoughts seem like the enemy we must battle to achieve inner peace or enlightenment.
My perspective on thoughts (that's so meta!) shifted this past Friday when I heard Jeff Foster speak in Boulder, Colorado. He was answering an audience question and pointed out something very surprising about our thoughts. The persistence of our thoughts trying to solve our problems all the time is actually quite sweet and innocent.
Thoughts are constantly at our side if we allow them to be. Regardless of the fact that many problems cannot be solved through the mind; thoughts will still try. Thoughts return to us over and over, and even when they wear the cloak of negativity or insanity, they are trying their best within their own capacities to work through the puzzles that plague us. How can you deny that loyal sweetness? How can you be hateful toward that innocent failure?
I used to imagine that abiding in love meant conquering the swarms of insidious thoughts. Those pesky, distracting, enlightenment-impeding bastards! But how would I expect to abide in love when I maintained a daily enemy? Thoughts are no enemy. Thoughts cannot possibly be the only thing in consciousness not made of the absolute love. Thoughts are love, too. Love your thoughts.
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