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Over Nepalese food the other night, my dad and I started a conversation not unlike the usual that has been resurfacing in my thoughts. Apparently, in India, children are taught that they are different than their thoughts. Thoughts are just sort of something there, to be observed and watched, but not to necessarily be followed. Thoughts are beingness are not inseparable. In fact, the point is, is that the two are fully separable. At first, this didn't seem that interesting to me. Sure, thoughts are not us. We aren't our thoughts. Sounds good enough. But, then I really tried to figure out what that meant. Do I really ever just observe what's going on in my head? Do I ever separate the me from the thought, and I realized that I don't, really. I don't know if many people do, in fact. Perhaps, we reasoned, this stems from Descartes: "I think, therefore I am." Does that unnecessarily assume that without thoughts we are nothing? That sort of makes sense, but does that mean that when my thoughts change, I am changed? So, then, this got me thinking (have I mentioned that I am working a job that affords me lots of time to follow my thoughts?), what am I? What exactly is a person? Well, their thoughts, no?

Wow, all this thinking sure has made me tired. I guess, if I could figure out how to observe my thoughts and not make my thoughts me, then I wouldn't be so tired. I could chose to watch them as I pleased.

Tonight, part of me thought that I wanted an almond joy. Instead of just perceiving this thought, I did a Descartes. I did my thought. I ate the chocolate. Man, I sure do have a lot to learn.