Part 5/13:
Attempting to suppress your thoughts is much like trying to halt a river with your bare hands—it only increases turmoil. Instead of battling the currents, Buddhism suggests a more mindful approach: observing thoughts without judgment. The Satipatthana Sutta offers valuable insights into cultivating non-judgmental awareness, enabling you to recognize that you are not your thoughts, but rather the awareness observing them.
Contemporary research, particularly by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs, indicates that such mindfulness practices can effect physical changes in the brain, enhancing focus and diminishing stress.