Ignore Thoughts

Sri Annamalai Swami

Q: I want to ask Swamiji a question. I want to relax more into the present and surrender to Bhagavan's will, but I am not sure that this is really within my power. In Swamiji's book, talk number five, Swamiji gave this answer: 'According to one's prarabdha, the efforts that are destined to happen will arise in one's mind.' 

This is an extremely significant remark for me. As I understand it, all the activities that happen in this world happen according to Bhagavan's will. But the thoughts that instigate the actions also seem to come from Bhagavan, and are also predetermined.

AS: Yes, everything comes from Bhagavan. All our activities play themselves out as a manifestation of the divine will. Our karma is part of this destiny. 

Q: OK. But I would still like to relaz in the present and surrender to Bhagavan's will. I find that throughout the day thoughts are coming up. A thought comes up: 'I want to realize the Self.' I remind myself, 'Here and now I am the Self. The desire does not come from the Self, because the Self has no need of realizing itself. So this must just be my vasanas coming up. I will ignore this thought.'

I cannot help this particular sequence of thoughts arising because swami has said that these thoughts manifesting in that particular order is Bhagavan's will, my destiny. I might think that I am choosing a particular option or not, but that choice ultimately seems to be incorporated in my destiny. As I watch these thoughts arise, I feel that there is nothing I can do to end them, execute them, or indulge in them. I can surrender and watch them, but it doesn't seem that I can do anything more than that.

AS: Your thoughts arise on a moment-to-money basis because of your vasanas, but it is a mistake to think that you can do nothing about them. You can be interested in them, or you can ignore them. If you show interest in them, they will persist and you will get caught up in them. If you ignore them and keep your attention on the source, they will not develop. And when they don't develop, they disappear.

In  who am I? Bhagavan compared this process to laying siege to a fort. If you cut off, one by one, the heads of the thoughts as they come out of the fort of the mind, sooner or later there will be none left. The way to do this is by self-enquiry. As each thought rises, you ask yourself, "To whom does this thought appear?" If you are vigilant in doing this, the forest of thoughts will lessen and lessen until there are none left. When the thoughts have gone, mind will sink into its source and experience that source.