Nature of thoughts
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
We all know the expression “a thought has come.” According to our ideas, the thought appears. However, it is believed that thought is the action of our consciousness, a certain product of thinking. The thought includes the representation of visual images, sounds, as well as assumption and reasoning. It turns out that thought is a sensual image, because it can be composed of feelings of the sensory organs.
All these associations do not give a clear answer to the question “what is a thought?” To date, there is no intelligible theory that explains the work of the brain and the nature of thought. There are attempts to give a more or less general picture and state the facts.
Thought is different information, which often appears in the brain. People feel such a phenomenon as a certain stream of thoughts connected with each other with the help of the associations. People inclined to analysis guide this stream by consciousness into regulated channel, try to justify and deduce certain statements based on strict rules from the previous to the next. This way of thinking is called logic.
In the unscientific sphere, the concept of the egregor became fashionable.
Wikipedia:
Egregore (also egregor) is an occult concept representing a “thoughtform” or “collective group mind”, an autonomous psychic entity made up of, and influencing, the thoughts of a group of people.
Relics, memorabilia and other items possess egregors, which, according to the people themselves, help them or, on the contrary, bear a curse. The strength and longevity of the egregor depends on the consistency and strength of the group.
The concept of egregor is one of the concepts of Theosophy. In his writings, it was willingly used by Papus, as well as by the well-known domestic mystic visionary Daniil Andreev.
In occultism, egregor is a creature possessing a quasi-reason. Due to the existence simultaneously, in occult terminology, in the astral and mental planes, it is capable of the simplest logical operations with the emotions and feelings of people.
From the point of view of bio-energy-informatics, “egregor” is an energy-information-time structure that occurs when co-directed actions of a group of people with common aspirations.
The presence of various egregors is postulated: religious, tribal, clan, magical orders, some philosophical teachings, creative schools, long-term and purposefully working collectives, social movements, etc.
Within the framework of such a union of people, the development of the egregor and individuals is supposed to be through the exchange of information and energies, which promotes the development of a hypothetical “collective mind”.
In general, egregor can be described as a kind of thought generated by a group of people, acting independently of each member of the group, and possibly the whole group as a whole.
Summarizing the presented data, we can draw the following conclusion: thought is a human product that has the ability to form a certain substance and influence society.
Correlating this conclusion with people’s senses, we find a contradiction, to which few people pay attention – a thought appears from the outside. In order not to impose human opinion, let us turn to the Quran on this topic.
In the Quran, the initiators of the appearance of certain thoughts are two sides: God and His disobedient ones.
- Suggestion from God:
And when I suggested to the disciples, that they believe Me and My messenger Jesus, they said, “We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we humbled ourselves!” (5:111)
When We suggested to your mother, ‘Cast him into the chest and cast it into the river, and the river will throw it onto the bank; there will take him an enemy to Me and an enemy to him!’… (20:39)
And We suggested to the mother of Musa (Moses), “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.” (28:7)
2. Suggestion from disobedient
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy – the disobedient ones from mankind and invisible creatures, suggesting to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent. (6:112)
And do not eat of that upon which the name of God has not been mentioned! Indeed, it is an apostasy! Indeed, the disobedient ones suggest to the ones they patron to dispute with you! And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be the associators of partners to God! (6:121)
It is not in vain that the Creator warns us about the qualities of thoughts.
O you who have believed! Avoid much assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. Beware of God! Indeed, God is Accepting of repentance and Merciful! (49:12)
It turns out that thoughts are divided into at least two categories: sinful and not sinful. There is no doubt that not-sinful thoughts have a divine nature. Where do sinful thoughts come from then? The main generator of such thoughts is Iblees.
Truly, the thought of the disappointed (iblees) became the truth for them. So they followed him, except for a party of believers. (34:20)
Iblees and his community specialize in manipulating consciousness by throwing all kinds of information.
1. Beautifying deeds
If they have humbled themselves, until Our strength was not yet coming to them! But their hearts became hardened, and the disobedient beautified to them that which they were doing! (6:43)
And when the disobedient beautified their deeds to them and said, “No one can overcome you today from among the people, and indeed, I will join you.” But when the two armies sighted each other, he turned on his heels and said, “Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I see what you do not see; indeed I fear God. And God is severe in penalty.” (8:48)
By God, We did certainly send to the leaders before you, but the disobedient beautified their deeds to them. And he will be their patron on that day and they will have a painful punishment! (16:63)
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of God, and the disobedient has beautified their deeds to them and averted them from the way. (27:24)
‘Aad and Thamud nations. It has become clear to you their dwellings. The disobedient had beautified to them their deeds and averted them from the path, and they were endowed with perception! (29:38)
2. Call, incitement:
Disobedient (shaitan) said when the matter has been decided, “Indeed, God had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I deceived you. But I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me! So do not blame me, but blame yourselves! I do not call you for help, and you do not call for my help either! Indeed, I am closed from your association of me with God before!” Indeed, for the obscurantists is a painful punishment! (14:22)
Do you not see that We have sent the disobedient ones upon the ones, who closed themselves, inciting them with incitement? (19:83)
Shall I inform you upon whom the disobedient ones descend?
They descend upon every sinful liar!
They pass on what is heard, and most of them are liars! (2:221-223)
Like the example of the disobedient when he says to man, “Close yourself!” But when he has closed himself, he says, “Indeed, I am disassociated from you! Indeed, I fear God, Lord of the worlds!” (59:16)
3. Oblivion:
And when you see those who engage in discourse concerning Our signs, then turn away from them until they switch to another story. And if disobedient should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the obscurantists! (6:68)
And Yusuf (Joseph) said to the one whom he knew would go free, “Mention me before your master.” But disobedient made him forget the mention to his master, and he remained in prison several years. (12:42)
4. Instigation
And if chanting of hostility comes to you from the disobedient, then seek refuge in God. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing! Indeed, those who are circumspect – when an impulse touches them from the disobedient, they remember and at once they have insight. (7:200-201)
And if there comes to you from the disobedient evil thoughts, then seek refuge in God! Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing! (41:36)
5. Suggestion, whispering, temptation:
Say, “Shall we invoke instead of God that which neither benefits us nor harms us and be turned back on our heels after Allah has guided us? Like one whom the disobedient enticed upon the earth confused?!”
He surprised his companions. They invite him to their guidance, “Come to us!”
Say, “Indeed, the guidance of God is the true guidance! And we have been commanded to humble ourselves to the Lord of the worlds. (6:71)
But disobedient whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their misdeeds.
He said, “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become maintainers or become of the ones eternally abiding.”
And he swore to them, “Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.” So he made them fall, through allurement. And when they tasted of the tree, their misdeed became apparent to them, and they began to repair the leaves of the garden above them.
And their Lord called to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that the disobedient is to you a clear enemy?” (7:20-22)
Then the disobedient whispered to him, saying “O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and unattainable kingship?” (20:120)
6. Deviation from the remembrance of God:
O you who have believed! Indeed, substances that cover the mind, gambling, stone alters and divining arrows are but abomination from the work of the disobedient. So avoid it that you may be successful! The disobedient only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through substances that cover the mind and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of God and from prayer. So will you not desist? (5:90-91)
He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is the disobedient, to man, a deserter.” (25:29)
7. Cause to slip out of the path
But disobedient caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that in which they had been. And We said, “Go down, as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.”(2:36)
Indeed, those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met, it was the disobedient one who caused them to slip for what they had earned. But God has already forgiven them. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Forbearing! (3:155)
8. Private conversation
Private conversation is only from the disobedient that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of God. And upon God let the believers rely! (58:10)
9. Frightening:
That is only the disobedient who frightens you with those who are under his patronage. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are believers! (3:175)
10. Dreams from disobedient:
Whom Allah has cursed.
For he had said, “I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion. And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of God.”
And whoever takes Satan as a patron instead of God has certainly sustained a clear loss! He promises them and arouses desire in them. But disobedient does not promise them except delusion. (4:118-120)
And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet to whom the disobedient did not throw into his dreams, when he indulged in dreams. But God abolishes that which the disobedient throws in; then God makes precise His signs. Verily, God is Knowing and Wise!
That is to make what the disobedient throws in a trial for those within whose hearts is disease and those hard of heart! And indeed, the obscurantists are in extreme dissension! (22:52-53)
11. Sows strife:
And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, the disobedient induces dissension among them. Indeed disobedient is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy! (17:53)
People constantly choose from the whole stream of thoughts precisely those to which they themselves are inclined.
They are not but [mere] names you have named them – you and your forefathers – for which God has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] personality desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance. (53:23)
The inclinations of our personality are determined by our worldview. The worldview is formed from the concept of the environment and the universe. In majority, people are oriented to the visible side of their lives. The meaning of life for such people does not go beyond the limits of the total “all”, thereby, the true meaning of being is closed from them. Attempts to comprehend one’s being do not lead to a positive result, because the empirical senses and experience serve as the starting point, which in no way gives us an understanding of divine truth.
Most of them follow not except assumption. Indeed, assumption has no benefit for the truth. Indeed, God is Knowing of what they do! (10:36)
But they have no knowledge about it. Indeed, they follow not except assumptions. Indeed, the assumption is useless in relation to the truth! (53:28)
The Quranic explanation of such a phenomenon as thought clearly narrates about the induction of them from the outside. It was for distinguishing between thoughts, actions and events that the Prescription of God was sent down. Realizing that thoughts are given to us, we can control our activities, choose the best solution and do not follow blindly for an air-built opinion. Such an approach negates the accepted concept of egregor, or rather explains the true nature of the appearance of thoughts and their influence on people.