The Power of Thoughts

" As an Archer aims the arrow, the wise aim their restless thoughts, hard to aim, hard to restrain. "
The Buddha

Thoughts are things, even thought we cannot hold them in our hands or see them with our eyes. This is very different from our usual view. Usually we consider thoughts as inmaterial, so we are not aware of how a fleeting thought can affect us. If I throw a beach ball at you, it wont hurt much, in five minutes you will have forgotten about it. But if I say something harsh to you, you will not be able to forget that thought, you will take it home in your mind, have nightmares about it, and wake up oppressed the next morning. We all know from personal experience how a harsh comment from a parent or friend can rankle in our consciousness for years. This is the immense power of thoughts.

--Eknath Easwaran