Global Good News: Excellence in Action

In his book the Science of Being and Art of Living, Maharishi goes deeply into different aspects of the art of thinking: right thought; useful and creative thought; powerful thinking; and thoughts to liberate the thinker.

In an upcoming series of articles, Excellence in Action will present Maharishi’s knowledge on each of these topics in order to give insights about the quality of thinking necessary for successful, fulfilling action and achievement in any field of life.

First Maharishi explains that the art of thinking should mean that the manner of thinking is such that the least amount of mental energy is consumed while the thought expressed is most powerful. He said that the thought is expressed in such a way that it is fulfilled without strain or tension—the energy required for thinking is less, the thought is powerful, and its fulfilment is certain. ‘This will be the aim of the art of thinking,’ Maharishi said, ‘. . . the least amount of exertion with the maximum results.’

The art of thinking also means that no useless or wrong thought occupies the mind. Thinking without the art of thinking means that any thought comes at any time: ‘a useless thought, a wrong thought, a weak thought, a misleading or degenerate thought,’ Maharishi said. ‘These are barriers to evolution.’ The art of thinking will mean that spontaneously, ‘by nature, only moral and virtuous thoughts fill the mind. Thoughts come in such a way that they do the greatest good for the thinker and spread harmony for the surroundings.’

Maharishi explains that evolution is secured only when the process of ‘loose thinking’ is replaced by the ‘art of thinking’. ‘Only then will thinking be in harmony with the Cosmic Law, the law of nature coupled with the purpose of evolution.’

Even though a thought sets the mind in action in the relative field, the art of thinking means that at the same time, the mind is ‘free from bondage or attachment’. The art of thinking will mean that while the thought is more powerful and more realistic to result in fulfilment, ‘it is simultaneously used to make the mind free,’ Maharishi said. ‘The mind should be in freedom while engaged in the activity of thought.’

First it should remain free from the binding influence of thought and second it should be used as a means of eternal freedom in higher states of consciousness.

Maharishi emphasized that the art of thinking lies in bringing the mind to the source of thought, and picking up ‘the seed of a thought in a conscious manner so that while the mind picks up the seed of the thought, it brings with it the limitless life energy from the field of transcendental Being as well.’

The art of thinking becomes a means for bringing transcendental Self-awareness— ‘transcendental Being of absolute nature’—out into the field of action. While the art of thinking brings Being into the field of activity, it also allows the thinker to rise to the state of Cosmic Consciousness, in which transcendental Being is maintained as an all time reality along with waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states of consciousness. This is the state of freedom. Transcendental Consciousness, the unbounded Self, is maintained alongside the boundaries of thinking and action.

Maharishi gives the analogy of an archer drawing back the arrow of his bow as far as possible before ‘releasing the bow, sending it ahead with great force’. He explains that the art of thinking lies in drawing the mind back to the source of thought. This is the process of Transcendental Meditation.

Through practice of the Transcendental Meditation Technique, our mind is brought back to the source of thought, Transcendental Consciousness, and from there the thought comes out into activity again supported by the power of Being. Being is ‘infused’ into our thinking and outside activity. This enables us to be more powerful and more efficient in the field of action.

At the same time, ‘we are relieved from the bondage of action, from the bondage of the fruits of action, and from the bondage of the seed of action—the thought,’ Maharishi said.

Thus the art of thinking is the most vital aspect of life ‘because it connects transcendental, absolute eternal Being,’ our own Self, ‘with the outside phenomenal phase of existence’ and secures for man a higher state of consciousness.

On a very practical level, the art of thinking includes clear thinking, which depends on the state of our mind and nervous system. The nervous system should not be tired, and our awareness should be such that ‘the full mind may act upon the nervous system and express itself in the outer world. Clear thinking is the result of a full mind using a strong nervous system. Then thoughts are clear and thinking is effective,’ Maharishi said.

Finally Maharishi said that it is essential that everyone should be well trained in the art of thinking. Efficiency of any kind depends upon the efficiency of thinking, ‘which in turn depends upon the ability of the mind to catch the thought at its subtlest state. If the thought is picked up at the source of thinking, it is picked up where it is strongest and most vital. The art of thinking lies in drawing the mind back to the source of thought; this is the process of Transcendental Meditation.’

Thus the art of thinking lies in having right thoughts; having useful creative thoughts; having powerful thoughts; having thoughts in such a manner that the thinker is not bound by the influence of thoughts and remains in freedom established in Being.

Excellence in Action will cover each of these points in further articles.

"The potential of every student is infinite. The time of student life should serve to unfold that infinite potential so that every individual becomes a vibrant centre of Total Knowledge."—Maharishi