Controlling our thoughts

By LingZhi

“Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon come out from behind the clouds. Shine” – Buddha.

The potential of our minds is immense. Every day, every minute, every second, hundreds and thousands of thoughts go through us. We are constantly thinking. Even when we are sleeping, our minds can still be working – we dream!

Since our minds play such an important function in our lives, it is important to learn to control our minds. For positive thoughts will translate into our actions and make our lives a better one.

But how can we do that?

So, over the recent years, I have come to appreciate meditation.

My work is relatively hectic. Throughout a working day, various work issues will need to be resolved by a certain cut off timing within the same day. Hence, with such intensity at work, I become irritable and impatient easily.

Whenever I meditate, the after effects last for a few days! I am better able to concentrate at work, stay focused, and resolve any issues quickly! Stress levels are gradually reduced as I am able to deliver work more effectively.

The benefits of meditation are endless. I still am impatient and can be irritable, but these have been drastically reduced. A new colleague mentioned recently: “You always look very happy. Is it because you are a Buddhist or a Christian?” I replied with a wide smile: “Yes, I am a Buddhist!”

While being a Buddhist does not equate to being happy, learning and practicing Buddha’s teachings in my daily life certainly made me a happier person than before.