Exiting The Infinite Train
As you exit, watch your step.
"Let go or be dragged."
– Zen Proverb
Question: “How Do I Stop Overthinking?
Answer: “Am I Overthinking?”
It’s not about the answer. It’s about the question.
You're not climbing a mountain of a problem, but scrambling a mountain of solutions.
It’s not about “How do I…?” It's never about “I should or shouldn’t be…”
When The How is asked, you're flooded with a million references, thousands of techniques, and hundreds of so-called “experts”.
Please note: The How is not "wrong", it's just irrelevant. The How is noise and a distraction.
But what's more deceitful than The How is The Should.
When The Should is imposed, it automatically places you in a position of falsehood.
“I should…” implies that you need to suppress whoever you are right now.
Suppression never works because it goes against Nature and Nature always finds a way. Nature not only finds a way. Nature is The Way.
It’s not about How. It’s never about Should. It’s about “What is?”
The Hows drown you. The Shoulds suffocate you.
The Hows give you a million answers. The Shoulds give you pretend answers.
But the question of “What is?” The question of “Am I overthinking?” requires only one answer—an honest one.
Yes or No.
Direct.
If No, you wouldn’t be asking the question of overthinking in the first place.
If Yes, you'd realize the absurdity of overthinking and drop it.
Nietzsche said, "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
If I were to play with his words...
He who seeks The Why does not need to settle for any How.
The question wherever you go is always “What is The Truth?”
What is The Truth about overthinking? The Truth is You are NOT your thoughts.
I Think != I Am
The problem with overthinking is not the “over” part. It’s the “thinking” part.
Not that thinking itself is the problem, but rather “thinking is Self” is the problem.
We attach ourselves to thoughts. In Attachment, we're rag-dolled and dragged about wherever they go.
Descartes famously said, “I think, therefore I am.” But the ancients and those who investigated The Mind with seriousness understand it's the exact opposite.
You are not your thoughts–far from. Whatever you “think” you are, you’re not that at all.
Naturally, you'll ask the question, “If I am not my thoughts, then what am I?” That question only you can investigate and answer. So I will pose another question:
“If I am not my thoughts, then what are thoughts?"
Full Speed Behead
If I asked you, “We're going on a train. Would you like to go on it?”
The first question you'd ask is, “Where is the train going?”
Because “where” determines if you'd like to go or not. The same applies to your thoughts.
The Mind is a train. It's The Train of Thought.
But this train has no stopovers. It doesn’t have brakes. It doesn’t slow down. It goes anywhere and everywhere at full speed. Forever.
Everything has a nature. You cannot stop the nature of anything and it is the nature of The Mind to think.
Saying you want to stop your mind from thinking (or overthinking) is trying to stop a train with your bare hands. You’ll only get battered, bruised, or crushed.
So what is to be done about this uncontrollable infinity train?
Two options (Neither are "right" or "wrong"):
- You can stay on the train and enjoy the ride.
- Get off the train.
How do you get off the train? It's funny. The first step is the last step.
See that you’re a passenger on the Train of Thought.
Seeing you’re on the train, steps you off the train.
Knowing you’re on the train, immediately exits you from the train.
Realizing you’re on the train, creates a distance between you and the train.
With this distance, you can decide either to get back on or stay off. But before you can get off the train, you have to understand that you’re on it in the first place.
We believe we’re our thoughts. We’re not. We’re simply the awareness of thoughts.
We believe we’re the train. We’re not. We’re simply a passenger on the train.
The understanding is the exiting.
The Final Frontier
Question: “How Do I Stop Overthinking?”
Answer: “Am I Overthinking?”
There is no technique. There is no exercise. There is no hack. There is no mantra. There is no practice.
There is only "Do you see?"
Do you see the train you’re currently on? Do you see you can stay on or off it?
To drop the burden of thoughts is the seeing of they're just thoughts.
You don't need solutions. All you need is sight.
Insight. Inner Sight.
See. For. Your. Self.
With insight, the so-called “problem” fades away on its own. It melts and disappears into nothing–like a vampire to light.
Question: “How Do I Stop Overthinking?”
Answer: “Am I Overthinking?”
"To ask the question is to answer it."
This is not a technique. If you use this as a technique, this will be a reaction.
A reaction is re-acting. Reacting is mimicking. If you mimic, you're a tape recorder of some random guy who knows Nothing because he said "x".
If you react, it'll be an empty action. Empty actions sprout empty results.
A reaction is not needed. A response is needed. The difference between the two is that a response requires a certain silence on your end.
This silence can only be heard when you've created SPACE.
Space between you and your anxiety.
Space between you and the train.
Space between you and your mind.
"Enlightenment is the space between your thoughts." - Eckhart Tolle
Space is where you live.
Within Space, you do whatever you want to do. Go wherever you want to go. Create whatever you want to create. Space is where Freedom reigns.
The space we aim for above is the same space we yearn for within.
We want to discover the secrets of the universe in outer space. Yet, we're ignorant of the infinite universe of inner space.
Space is where you See God.
Space is true heaven.
Silence is true freedom.
"This" is true ascension.
No longer a passenger on the Train of Thought. No longer bounded by The World.
Once you escape The World's gravitational pull, you immediately enter a Silent Space.
Above, you see The Infinite.
You see all the celestial beings that came before and after you. Upon seeing them, you realize they're not far and they're not different from you.
You see them and they see you.
Even words like "them" and "you"...or..."I" and "other" begin to melt and leave.
All sing the same notes and dance in the same rhythm. All become indistinguishable.
Below, you see The World. The World is Under you and you Stand above it.
It looks different now. It's as if you're using your eyes for the first time.
Complex and loud up close, but simple and quiet at this distance.
You no longer see The World as it once was or can be.
Because you finally see What Is.
The Train spins towards Oblivion.
The Path, I see. It's destination, I smile.
I Know I will board again soon.
But Here, I remain.
In Stillness, I move.