How to remove negative thoughts?

The way in which the question is posed and commonly approached is based on the notion that there exist negative and positive thoughts, and that individuals aim to eliminate negative thoughts while maintaining only positive ones. To those who hold such beliefs, I suggest conducting a brief experiment lasting around 10 to 15 seconds.

They can attempt to forcibly remove a particular thought from their mind during this time. For instance, they could try to refrain from thinking about a monkey for the next 10 seconds. In doing so, they will likely find that their mind becomes flooded with thoughts of monkeys.

Here are no subtractions or divisions in our mind

The essence of what I am conveying is that the nature of the mind is such that it is like a car with only throttle pedals - there is no brake or clutch. Thus, whatever is touched or thought about only speeds up. Despite being taught by moral and religious teachers to avoid negative thoughts, it has become an overwhelming and futile task.

Trying to forcefully remove negative thoughts is not effective, as it only strengthens their presence. Instead of attempting to remove negative thoughts, it is crucial to understand the fundamental workings of the mind, which is the most advanced computer known to humanity.

Unlike mathematical operations, the mind only adds and multiplies, leading to an increase in thoughts when one tries to suppress them. It is vital to comprehend these basic mechanisms to effectively manage the mind. Simply closing your eyes for a few minutes will reveal the limitations of forceful control over the mind.

The focus in this mindset is not on identifying what is positive or negative and attempting to eliminate it

Rather than attempting to identify and remove negative or positive thoughts from the mind, it is essential to recognize that the mind and body are vehicles that are meant to serve us, the conscious beings within them. Unfortunately, many individuals view the mind as a nuisance, rather than appreciating it as the most beautiful and valuable aspect of themselves.

To begin understanding the mind, it is necessary to distance oneself from physiological and psychological processes, which is achieved through practices such as Isha Kriya. By doing so, one can recognize that beyond their thoughts and emotions, there is a fundamental sense of aliveness.

This aliveness is the most significant aspect of who we are, and it is crucial to focus on this to create a natural distance between ourselves and our thoughts. This distance allows us to appreciate the gift of our consciousness and experience the fullness of life in the present moment.

The cessation of suffering occurs when a separation is created between one's psychological and physiological processes

Creating distance between your physiological and psychological processes marks the end of suffering. Human beings experience two types of suffering: physical and mental. When you create space between yourself and your mind or body, you experience freedom from suffering.

This is an essential realization that all human beings must experience. Simply attempting to remove negative thoughts and cultivate positive ones is not a reliable path to end suffering. It is impossible to eliminate negative thoughts entirely, and attempts to do so will only result in temporary avoidance.

Many people try to avoid negative thoughts by repeating mantras such as "Ram, Ram" or "Shiva, Shiva." However, this is just a temporary solution that does not eliminate the negative thoughts. In fact, the thoughts often return with greater force once the mantra stops. Even worse, negative thoughts can appear in our dreams when we least expect it.

To truly address negative thoughts, we must first understand the root causes of our anger, resentment, fear, and anxieties. These negative emotions are often directed toward other people, but we must realize that holding onto these feelings is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way - if we drink poison, we are the ones who suffer the consequences, not anyone else.

It's important to understand that negative emotions like anger and resentment are like poison to our bodies. In fact, if you were to analyze your blood after just five minutes of intense anger, you would see negative elements in it.

Therefore, it's crucial that we don't allow ourselves to be consumed by these emotions. Instead, take a step back and focus on something related to your life processes, like your heartbeat or your breath. By paying attention to these things, you'll start to distinguish between your true self and the negative emotions that you've accumulated.