Thought 8: Wrong thoughts destroy a person

An impulse is a thought – and very few people are conscious of such impulses, when they arise in their minds. When an impulse, which is centered on a sense object, suddenly takes root in the heart, more often than not, the person is not even aware of it. When the mind dwells on this thought repeatedly for some time, he begins to get worked up over it. This thought then takes possession of the mind as if the person had sold himself to it. And very soon later, this person begins to give excessive importance to that very thing to which the thought is attached – and becomes identified with it completely.

Bhagavaan Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “Dhyaayato Vishayaan Pumsah Sanga Ste Shuupa-jaayate Sangaat Sanjaayate Kaamah Kaamaat Krodho-bhijaayate Krodhaad Bhavati Sammohah Sammohaat Smriti-vibhramah Smriti-bhramsaad Buddhi Naso Buddhi Naasaad Pranasyati = For the person, who constantly broods over the sense objects, attachment to those sense objects is born. From attachment is born desire and from unfulfilled desire anger is born. From anger delusion takes place. From delusion, loss of memory occurs. From loss of memory results the loss of Buddhi. From the loss of Buddhi, he gets destroyed”. (2.62, 63)

Thus, at first the object and the person stand as two separate entities; but through attachment and lack of discrimination, the person becomes identified with the object and suffers from what ever comes out of this attachment. The resulting desire sets up its own pressure in the mind and the mind becomes restless and unsteady - and gradually destroys the person.

The wrong thoughts may destroy a person easily but the wrong thoughts cannot be destroyed easily. Wrong thoughts however, can be harnessed and purified. If you direct your passions towards the lower things such as sensual pleasures and sensual objects, you sink lower. If you link them, however, to higher spiritual objectives, these passions get purified - and you rise higher. Spirituality brings clarity, compassion and commitment to do good. Spiritual progress leads to happiness - and a happy person makes all others happy. Of course, the converse is also true; that is, an unhappy person tries to make all others unhappy

The next thought is about “Inner struggles”