The Illusion of Thoughtless Living:
Have you ever wondered why we are always revolving around with thoughts? Can we remember a moment where we just lived but didn’t analyze—where we just felt but didn’t think?
We might say, “Why not? Hanging out with friends, going on a trip, watching my favourite show—in every moment of these activities, I’m fully engaged and haven’t analyzed or even thought about anything when I’m immersed in them.”
No, my dear friends, no. Even during the beautiful trip, the mind whispers: How beautiful the world is… then why am I wasting time in a negative and toxic environment? Though those questions aren’t heard exactly as they are, they’re expressed through a sense of relaxation—which we call feeling the essence of the trip.
Even during an engaging movie, the mind reflects your emotional wounds, pain, and memories. These come out as tears or the “essence of the experience” when you watch the movie. You might not know it consciously, but that’s how you’re experiencing the scenario.
Think of it like this: what happens if you don’t have any memories, any wounds, any pain? Would you still feel the movie’s essence like you do now? No—not at all.
So even beneath all these surface-level feelings and interactions, the human mind is always analyzing, processing, and clearing unresolved questions, wounds, and suppressed thoughts without us knowing—while still preserving the essence of the environment.
Then comes the very question:
Where Do Thoughts Come From?
Where are those thoughts arising from? That rewind of what happened… the feeling that I could have said this… or the question Why did I say that? All these thoughts and perceptions are just what’s conscious to us. But in depth lies the deeper question: Why are these occurring? Why does a thought arise, suddenly grow, and then gradually fade away? Where is it going? What is happening inside my mind? Is something wrong with my mind?
No, my dear friends—nothing is wrong. In fact, if those things didn’t happen, it would be a signal that something is wrong.
What you are observing is simply the nature of the mind. That question of How should I have reacted in that moment? or How should I react tomorrow while the situation hasn’t yet arrived?—all of these are just the mind’s way of accomplishing its core function.
What is that core function? You might say, “Those thoughts and feelings don’t align with my purpose and goals, Gowtham—don’t play.” Sorry, my friends, I’m not talking about individual goals and desires—they are planted by us. I’m talking about a deeper, more natural function of the mind, apart from controlling the body:
Building the layer of awareness:
You may ask: “Why should I be aware when I’m already good? What should I be aware of? I already know the consequences of negativity and I’m heading in the right direction—why do I need more awareness?”
Here’s the thing: the mind’s awareness has no boundaries like our desires or purposes. It is an everlasting phenomenon that lasts until the last impulse of our neurons, until our last breath, until the final neuron in our brain shuts off.
All of the mind’s questioning—and answering itself—is simply to carry out this work of enlarging and refining awareness.
Why the Mind Questions Everything:
What and why that awareness—when I’m already wise and good? The answer lies in the very beauty and truth of the mind—it constantly challenges existing beliefs. Why? Because evolution has wired it to check whether its perceptions are correct; in survival terms, this is essential.
But beyond survival, it questions our beliefs, desires, and ways of thinking.
It questions them to seek the real truth or a better answer. And when it finds one, the cycle begins again—and continues until the last neuron shuts off.
All these elements—beliefs, ways of thinking, perceptions—together form the mind’s awareness. And as I said, the mind is just doing its job of expanding and improving that awareness.
We might think we’re engaged in different tasks—career, dreams, relationships—but beneath all these surface-level activities, the mind is pursuing its root job of building and modifying awareness.
“Gowtham, you’re just kidding. How could it build awareness when I’m in a relationship, working on my career, or chasing my dreams? That doesn’t sound logical.” If this is new to you, it might feel illogical—but it’s simply how reality works. We’ll discuss how in my next post.
Before ending, let’s finish with a question:
If all these thoughts, experiences, and feelings are part of building awareness, then why do some people always end up with negative thoughts and emotions while others live happily with positive ones?
An amazing question. I’ll reflect on the answer in my next post. Until then, I’m letting you think for yourself and analyze your own mind before we meet again.
