" If you don't use thought for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden " ~ UG

  

              Thought is the product of conditioning

            Thoughts are basically ‘processed’ memories, the residues of experiences gathered over a lifetime, the ‘leftovers’ from various interactions with the environment – both the physical (or natural) environment as well as the social (or cultural) environment. In other words, ‘thought’ is the product of either the ‘physical conditioning’ or the ‘cultural conditioning’. 

            Conditioning is the mechanism of adaptation of the entity in a given environment. Our ‘infant to adult’ journey is one of accrual or accumulation of thoughts (knowledge) or the amassing of experiences or learnings about both our natural and cultural environments. 

    The ‘natural conditioning’ occurs in case of all lifeforms including humans while they adapt to the physical environment. Whereas the cultural or ‘social conditioning’ is peculiar to the human race. It is a superimposition on top of natural conditioning making humans not only unique but also volatile and unpredictable. 

Conditioning midwives 'thought', the tool or the instrument essential for operating, functioning within a given environment. This indeed is the true function or utility of thought. 

Instead of being a powerful tool for adaptation and survival, thought could very well turn into a weapon when employed as a means to control or influence or dominate over others or the natural order of things: “Thought is your enemy” ~ UG.

Phobias & Psychological Fears

Specifically, thoughts of fear or phobias are the result of physical or natural conditioning. Whether it is acrophobia or the fear of heights, or aquaphobia or the fear of drowning, pyrophobia or the fear of fire, all these are natural and valid fears. They ensure that the physical entity survives and does not suffer any harm or danger in the natural environment. 

On the other hand, the psychological or thought-induced fears like the fear of loss, the fear of humiliation, the fear of guilt or shame are all artificial fears, born of culture. This is peculiar to humans; animals do not suffer this fate. 

Human journey is pivoted around the social or cultural conditioning. In fact, our education is all about gathering or studying thoughts, the thoughts of others – the thoughts of wise men and women from every walk of life since the beginning of time. World’s libraries are flooded with thoughts of leaders, achievers, scientists, inventors, philosophers, saints and sages from ages. They have tremendous influence on our thoughts and actions to this day. 

Even the social or cultural environment is soaked or charged or contaminated with human thought: “We are surrounded by what I call the ‘world mind’ or the ‘thought sphere” ~ UG. 

Every human, in a way, is a tiny repository of the cumulative knowledge of humans since time immemorial, the product of centuries of human thought. Every social or cultural interaction is a means of exchange or transmission or dissemination of thoughts or ideas. As societal creatures, no wonder we can never be free of thoughts even for a moment.

Lack of purpose or goal reduces the burden of thoughts

In the audio clip, UG points out exactly when thoughts stop being functional, instead turning into inimical agents. This happens when there is an agenda or a purpose or a motive to achieve a certain goal, either material or spiritual.

" The achievement you are interested in, is made possible but not guaranteed through this instrument called ‘thinking’...

Thought is the material, the idea that there is something to be achieved, the goal is fixed. So, what you are doing is putting these thoughts together to achieve that goal. That's all that you are doing. You are thinking. So, this material (thought or knowledge) has been supplied to you, by the claimants (the achievers) who talked about this.” ~ UG

Thoughts are generally random, not binding or burdensome. Every moment, some thoughts appear and disappear depending on our situation, depending on the people who we meet with or interact with. But mostly thoughts are ‘disjointed or disconnected’, flowing in a free-wheeling mode. Random, with no real purpose or focus, they completely lack any substance or momentum. 

The whole equation changes when there is a strong motivation or desire to achieve a particular objective or goal. Thoughts then get focused, turn purposeful and forceful coalescing into a formidable ‘will’. Willful thoughts get propelled into motion towards achieving the desired goal or result. They acquire tremendous power and gather enormous momentum. UG calls this ' the movement of knowledge’.

Incidentally the 'movement of knowledge' wreaks havoc on our lives by simulating the powerful and stubborn illusion of a virtual reality, the false appearance of the 'knower' or the 'doer' or the 'achiever' or the ‘self’. “Self is nothing but the movement of knowledge” ~ UG. 

Yes, thoughts in motion create the illusion of the ‘thinker’ just like the still images or drawings when set into motion give rise to the illusion of Tom and Jerry.

In the clip, UG deconstructs the ‘self’ or the ‘you’ through yet another simple, profound observation,

“If you don't use that (thought) for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden. Then it (thought) becomes disconnected and disjointed. The continuity (of the 'self'), the demand to continue through the repetition of the thought is not there. You have to experience that (thought) again and again and again (to feed the illusion of the ‘self’). Otherwise, ‘you’ are not there” ~ UG

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Audio Clip

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Audio Transcription

Q: The changes in thought, frequent changes in thought show that they (thoughts) have no basis.

UG: No, you see, the use of thoughts to achieve something is the problem. Whether it is material achievement or spiritual achievement. You call it a spiritual achievement, but the instrument which you are using is matter.

And so, this so-called desire to achieve a spiritual goal is also materialistic. So, both of them are finished for you.

Q: Thought should cease.

UG: Thought will not cease. Thought is not the instrument.

Q: What is the instrument?

UG: There is no instrument at all. The achievement you are interested in, is made possible but not guaranteed through this instrument called ‘thinking’.

Q: True, what exactly is the material?

Thought is the material, the idea that there is something to be achieved, the goal is fixed. So, what you are doing is putting these thoughts together to achieve that goal. That's all that you are doing. You are thinking. So, this material has been supplied, to you, by the claimants who talked about this.

Q: Granted,

UG: That's all. You are using that. So, then what is the question?

Q: Then, you see, is the ‘thought condition’ in which I am, itself, is satisfactory, for life?

UG: It is. It is

It is. If you don't use that for any achievement, spiritual or otherwise, then it is not a burden. Then it becomes disconnected and disjointed. The continuity, the demand to continue through the repetition of the thought is not there. You have to experience that again and again and again. Otherwise ‘you’ are not there. 

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Tao Teh Ching

Chapter 3

Do not glorify the achievers (or chase after goals)
So, the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So, the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So, their hearts will not be confused

Thus, the governance of the sage:
Empties their hearts (or minds)
Fills their bellies (or fills their essence)
Weakens their ambitions
Strengthens their bones

Let the people have no cunning and no greed
So those who scheme will not dare to meddle
Act without contrivance (or scheme or plan)
And nothing will be beyond control (all actions will be natural and harmonious)

(Derek Lin)

Source: https://taoism.net/tao-te-ching-online-translation/

(Tao of UG - Chapter 3)