Don't do it as much now, though have consistently over long periods in the past. Some benefits I experienced (subjective):
- Thoughts do not have a grip over how I act as often.
- probably related, lower likelihood of compulsively doing things.
- Feeling more collected and relaxed in traffic and 'stressful situations.'
- More likely to be able to pay attention to who I am talking with, what I am doing, etc, right now instead of thinking of things besides that.
- Start of realization that who I am is not the internal dialog and procession of thoughts. This one is hard to explain. I think I am certain things due to my thoughts; that's just my thoughts though.
- Noticing that thinking constantly about things using language puts reality into categories that are essentially made up.
Anyway, your experience may be different. I highly suggest trying it.
> - Start of realization that who I am is not the internal dialog and procession of thoughts. This one is hard to explain. I think I am certain things due to my thoughts; that's just my thoughts though.
This one for me is huge. You are not your thoughts. Took a really long time to understand.. it's almost like I am two people, the one who is thinking and the one who observes the thinking. Helps me distance my emotions and reflect on them in a more rational way (not obsess over mistakes, or worry too much about the future).
Just to expound a bit, since I've had the same revelation during meditation...
Buddhists believe that the mind is another sense, just like sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The only difference is that it's a sense that devoted to looking inward instead of outward. And during meditation you can really start to see it as such. In the same way that you can let your eyes glaze over and see without processing the images or tune out what you're hearing, you can think without paying attention to your thoughts. It's can be trippy to experience, especially when you have the related revelations that pain or other discomfort is, similarly, just a thought that you can likewise ignore.
>- Noticing that thinking constantly about things using language puts reality into categories that are essentially made up.
This is a revelation of even higher magnitude for me.
Especially if you are multilingual, you notice how many of your ideas about the world are shaped (or at least influenced) by the language you use, which might be helpfull to some, and limiting to others. I think this is what Wittgenstein wanted to express in his famous quote: "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world"
The one who observes the thinking arises in relation to what is thought ("the one who is thinking"--in your words).
This means that as the thought changes from one to the next, the one who observes the thinking also changes.
The thought and it's observation arise together, and pass away together. This is followed by the arising of another (different) thought and corresponding observation of that thought.
Prior to perceiving this inconstancy of observation/consciousness whatever consciousness that arises is identified as I, mine, that I'm within it, or that it's within me.
When perceiving inconstancy of consciousness, whatever change of consciousness that arises is understood as just another change and is not identified with as me/mine/etc.
- Thoughts do not have a grip over how I act as often. - probably related, lower likelihood of compulsively doing things.
- Feeling more collected and relaxed in traffic and 'stressful situations.'
- More likely to be able to pay attention to who I am talking with, what I am doing, etc, right now instead of thinking of things besides that.
- Start of realization that who I am is not the internal dialog and procession of thoughts. This one is hard to explain. I think I am certain things due to my thoughts; that's just my thoughts though.
- Noticing that thinking constantly about things using language puts reality into categories that are essentially made up.
Anyway, your experience may be different. I highly suggest trying it.