| A "thoughtless" person can be very dangerous to | | | | when we see how a thoughtless person's actions are |
| ourselves, and unpredictable as well. Thoughtless | | | | pure, without agenda, without consideration or |
| people are all over the place, we seem to run into | | | | cunningness to receive something in return, or save |
| them constantly these days, and when we do, we | | | | themselves, then our small "self" feels ashamed, and |
| must be prepared to respond in the appropriate | | | | when our self feels ashamed, it begins to justify its |
| manner. | | | | cowardly actions. |
| Perhaps "thoughtless" is not the correct terminology | | | | So how should we respond to these thoughtless |
| here. When we typically think of a thoughtless | | | | people that we run into constantly? I think that we |
| person, we think of a person who is actually filled | | | | should embrace them - recognize them for the |
| with thoughts, constant thoughts, and not | | | | heroes and heroines that they truly are. But since |
| thoughtless at all. They are filled with endless | | | | they are thoughtless, the praise that they receive will |
| thoughts about themselves, so much so, that there | | | | go in one ear and out the other, as will any criticism |
| is no room for others, or the opinions of others. This | | | | that they are in some way irresponsible. |
| person is filled with himself to the point that he no | | | | They can't help it that they are thoughtless, they |
| longer notices others, or attempts to help them. He | | | | just see life differently. They see life as it actually is, |
| only helps himself. If he does happen to notice | | | | not merely tools for our personal security. The |
| someone else, it is usually from the standpoint of | | | | thoughtless person envisions all of us as one, and |
| contempt. | | | | whatever they do; it is never considered to be a |
| But this is not the thoughtless people that I am | | | | sacrifice. How could giving up a self, that doesn't |
| writing about. I am writing about truly thoughtless | | | | exist in a thoughtless person's mind, be sacrificed for |
| people - people who can see so clearly that they act | | | | anything. |
| without the burden of thought interfering with their | | | | Mother Teresa could easily have died in India, and if |
| actions. You know who they are; the soldier who | | | | she would have, she would not have felt that she |
| falls on a grenade to save his buddies, the mother | | | | was any better or different from the children she |
| who gives her life for her child, our champions in the | | | | saved. This understanding only occurs to thoughtless |
| movies that so endear us with their selfless actions, | | | | people, because thoughtless people are humanity; not |
| the football heroes that sacrifice all personal safety | | | | merely separate parts of humanity. Did Mother |
| to help their team win. | | | | Teresa care if the children were Catholic, or Hindu, or |
| But when thought has a chance to interfere, we | | | | Buddhist? No, she never asked; she knew that such |
| become careful. Thought is the protector and | | | | unimportant things such as religious beliefs only |
| architect of our "self," our ego, and as such will | | | | mattered with thoughtful people, never thoughtless |
| hesitate when it comes to selfless action. If Mother | | | | people. Thoughtless people only worried about their |
| Teresa wasn't a thoughtless person, she would have | | | | fellow human beings. |
| thought twice about risking her life in a disease ridden | | | | So as meditators, we watch our thoughts, and we |
| country to help poor kids that could never pay her | | | | are constantly asked how we can survive in this |
| back. | | | | world without relying solely on thinking. |
| Therefore, thoughtless people are a danger to our | | | | I ask in return; have you noticed the world lately, |
| "selves." The reason they are a danger is because | | | | one that is completely ruled by thought? |