We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. -- Buddha

A man's mind is full of thoughts that dictate his action and direction in life. It is normal for a man to be self-centred and think of thoughts that only promote his self interests, even if it is at the expense of others. That is the way we evolved. However, humans have been uniquely gifted with the power to think and to train themselves. Each one has within himself the power to think beyond conventional boundaries and set his thoughts on a higher plane. The higher plane need not necessarily be equated with spirituality or be focused on religion. A man can cultivate the attributes of righteousness and live life that way: pure and untainted by evil or wickedness or harm to others. Holistic thoughts lead to a holistic lifestyle.

The path to purity of thought is not straight or easy. One has to unlearn all that has become a natural ingrained practice. Then he has to develop a sense of self-awareness and have a direction in life. He has to train his mind to be aware of his thoughts and his attitudes. In essence he carries on a dialogue with himself asking himself if what he is thinking is right and positive. He teaches his mind control: control over his thoughts and thus his actions.

A spin off to holistic thinking is that health improves and a man is at peace with himself and the world. He develops equanimity and remains unaffected and unshaken by petty remarks.

In order to become aware and to change, he must have a strong belief in himself and the value systems he will adopt. It is not easy to stay on the path when emotions and feelings can overwhelm you into temporary lapses. Commitment to his belief is another quality he can develop on the way.

“I think, therefore I am”, said Descartes. The uniqueness of the human mind is that a person can control his thoughts and let his thoughts influence his body. A person with some illness can focus and concentrate and get well through thoughts. Similarly, he can focus on thoughts that will heal relationships and create a tranquil atmosphere around him.

Most people have closed minds and it takes efforts to train the mind to become active. An active mind examines ideas critically, sifts falsehood and truth and has firm convictions that remain unassailable. Not everyman can attain the state of enlightenment of a Buddha, but he can try to reach a higher level with conscious effort and practice.