Selective Thinking
The Two Extremes
This was also why the Buddha pointed out that the two extremes to be avoided are:
1. Unconscious Expression of emotions
2. Unconscious Suppression or repression of emotions
Instead, the medial way was: –
Resulting in: –
It is also important to understand that the cause, of all our unhappiness and our feeling of insecurity in the world, is our blind emotions (tanha). Therefore the bad thoughts we must get rid of are the self-centered emotional thoughts that come in the form of lust, hate, and the notion of “self”.
These emotions also come in the form of the “five emotional disturbances” (panca nivarana):
(1) Craving for sensual pleasures (kamacchanda)
(2) Anger (vyapada)
(3) Despair and Depression (thina midda)
(4) Anxiety and Worry (uddhacca kukkucca)
(5) Vacillation of mind / Cognitive Dissonance (vicikicca).
Emotions are disturbances of the mind and body that cause physical tension, and make one uncomfortable and unhappy. Good thoughts, on the other hand, are the peaceful rational thoughts that relax the body, calm the mind, and make one comfortable and happy. Emotions are also unconsciously activated, while good thoughts are consciously thought out. Therefore selective thinking is the replacement of unconscious bad thoughts with conscious good thoughts. It is substituting good thoughts for bad thoughts. It is simply cultivating the habit of good thinking.