Freedom
At any given moment of time, either you focus on something or just entertain thoughts as a free flow, there is a chain of thoughts, and every thought is associated with a feeling, emotion and sentiment.
We don't have a control over what thought occupies our mind, at any moment.
Rarely some of us, are capable of consciously looking at the thought that comes to our mind, and still rarely some of us, can change our mind and entertain thought at our will, even if we try to entertain a new thought, that new thought too, is conditioned, meaning, it is not that new.
we go ether-thither with the chain of thoughts and associated feelings most of the times, and go through the mood swings.
Meditation is a process of not allowing external stimuli to interfere with our thoughts, and an attempt is made to control our thoughts. At higher levels, we can silence our mind, and have a zero thought state of mind. Even then, the thought of "I" will still be there, if that is also transcended one goes to samadhi state.
Now let us come back to the workings of the mind, all thoughts are either an experience or a plan or an imagination.
Character is a bundle of our imprints, vasanas and genetic stuff.
Our behavior is suppose to reveal our character, thanks to the social conditioning, we doctor our behavior to reveal ourselves which do not truly represent our character, this creates stress.
True happiness is being without reflecting, being in the flow, but, as we are conditioned, this flow does not happen, as we constantly try to work on the thoughts consciously.
Our desire to achieve something, and our desire to reach a goal, will make us focus on our thoughts, and try to work the chain to our benefit.
so, we are trading our happiness to be happy!!
How then to be happy, unconsciously live with a flow, and as well achieve our goals and desires.
there are two ways to achieve this, the easier way, and the tougher way.
the easier way is to resign to a power above, meaning, believing whatever is happening to us, happens for a reason, and there is an higher power and things happen according to "the plan' so stop thinking and start living.
the tougher way is work on the character, look at ourselves consciously watch the characteristic trait from which the thoughts emerge, look at that imprint or vasana, work on it and change it.
The tougher path needs a lot of help, the other path needs just one thing, to shed our "ego".
