There is a general feeling that thinking is entirely originated from within us and that oneself is the sole author of it. When we become self-aware, we notice that there are many hidden causes that influence our thoughts. One of them is the thought continuum around us that UG krishnamurti calls a thought-sphere, like the atmosphere around us. One’s mind resonates with the vibrations in that sphere, very much like a radio picking up signals from a field of waves generated by a broadcast. When we become conscious of this, we see the bombardment from outside on our thought formations. Because of the thought-sphere influence, most of the concepts and conclusions that we carry with us have been given to us by others, primarily through the media. Identifying oneself with the world in that manner gives us a feeling of satisfaction and security. From the many influences, we pick up those that support our conditioning engendered by genetic and environmental factors. Such a situation makes us second-hand human beings. The surreptitious capturing of our minds by society is one of the main reasons for our mediocrity. Remaining alert, we can sense the vibrations entering us from outside and so become wary of it. If we notice that a rat has come into our house and wish to chase it away, we first ask how it came in. We must block the possibility of entry before we think of sending out the intruder. The same way, we must understand how the thought-sphere enters us before we can apply ourselves to ejecting its influence.
This thing brings us to the point of understanding how we get woven into the psychological fabric of society and so find it difficult to release ourselves from it. There is a practical need to be in touch with that fabric and in the process we fall a prey to its thought-sphere. This is where we have to apply discrimination and be alert enough not to let the rat in. At the beginning, the stranglehold that the psychological fabric of society has over us is hard to perceive. Its effect can be seen in the way people have given themselves over to the media. Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the Internet severely grip people’s daily consciousness and effectively thwart their self-awareness. Mental pollution by the media is a pertinent factor to be aware of, if we are to appreciate the beauty of what lies beyond the apparent.
Contemporary Thought: This is an important issue while considering the psychological fabric of society. What goes on around us as intellectual issues involving controversies captures our attention and, unknowingly, we get threaded into the fabric. We lose ourselves in that noise to the point of being unaware of our true selves. Quite often, that stream of contemporary thought appears to be significant while it is nothing more than conditioned thinking. When we see its empty nature, it becomes easy to release ourselves from it and the associated opinion mongering. People who go through a NDE or OBE get transported into a different dimension of consciousness for a brief period. After they come back, they see the poisonous effect of the thought-sphere on us very clearly and so keep off in their own way. That is why they can love life and love the after-life too.
Reflecting on the above facts of daily life can help us move towards a peaceful mind. Related issues are covered in the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com