Dear Thay,
What is your thinking structure? How do you think? Do you meditate when you think?
I don't structure my thinking. A sort of mental discipline for thinking may not be helpful. It may bring confusion, anxiety, or fear.
Recognizing what kind of thoughts we produce is helpful to know if our thinking is right thinking. It is right, if has a good affect, a healing affect, and makes us feel joyful. If our thinking is not right thinking it will not be healthy for ourself or others.
Thinking that is not right needs to be looked into deeply to see its roots. It may be caused by wrong perception or physical causes. Knowing the roots of negative thinking can make it possible to replace it with good thoughts. Good thoughts have compassion, equanimity, understanding and similar qualities. Such thoughts produce good results. We need to be mindful
of our thoughts in order to have positive ones. Thoughts have great power.
Usually I don't respond to a situation with my thinking. I respond with my whole person, not just my thinking. I respond with my brotherhood, non-violence, equanimity, understanding, and compassion. I try to respond with what is pleasant and natural. If you find you are not responding this way look deeply to see why not. Responding with mindful breaths might help to respond differently to a situation.
From time to time, thinking is helpful. But it is not the best ground from which to respond. I don't depend on my thinking. I respond naturally. Like when responding to the sound of the meditation bell. No thinking is necessary. It is the same with the pleasant things of life. They don't need a lot of thinking. They need non-thinking. We think too much. And most of our thinking is useless.
Notes compiled by Bill Menza from a CD recording of a Question and Answer Session with Thich Nhat Hanh at the 21 Days Retreat: The Breath of the Buddha at Plum Village France, June 2006.
