Finding Inner Peace: Managing Thoughts and Emotions

Have you ever wondered why your mind keeps generating unwanted thoughts? Or why certain emotions seem to bubble up out of nowhere? Understanding the inner workings of the mind is the first step to finding peace within.

At the heart of our thinking are two aspects of the mind: Man and Buddhi.
Buddhi is the aspect that simply differentiates. It sees things clearly without judging. It is the seat of our intelligence and discernment. Buddhi helps us tell light from darkness, truth from illusion. Without it, we would be inert, unable to navigate life’s choices.

Man, on the other hand, is the mind that gives commentary. It reacts, emotes, and adds flavor to what we experience. If Buddhi watches a movie quietly, Man gets caught up in it. Man is the one that feels thrilled, sad, excited. It analyzes everything, connects present experiences to past memories, and stirs emotion based on what it remembers.

For example, watching a romantic movie might bring tears, not because of the story itself but because Man links it to a long-lost love or a childhood dream. This is how thoughts and emotions often arise: not from the present moment, but from past associations stored in the memory bank.

So how do we manage this constant stream of thoughts and emotions?

Step One: Understand the Distinction

Begin by seeing the difference between the workings of the man and the buddhi. You don’t have to become cold, but becoming less reactive helps. When you are less emotionally volatile, your thoughts naturally reduce. The inner noise quiets.

But if this doesn’t happen easily, you may need to first strengthen your willpower.

Step Two: Build Willpower Through Practice

Start with your body. When you practice asanas and sit with stillness, you begin to take charge of your energy. The breath becomes a bridge. A stable breath leads to a stable mind. An unstable breath makes the mind restless.

This is why breathwork is central to all spiritual paths.

Where Do Thoughts Come From?

Thoughts don’t just come from what we see and hear. They arise from a larger field—a spiritual field—like a reservoir of impressions. Some are picked up through the senses, consciously or unconsciously. Others are ancient, carried forward from previous lives.

These past-life impressions reside in a subtle body called the Gyanmaya Kosha, which is the body of knowledge and intelligence. Think of it as a vast storehouse or a DVD carrying the highlights of all your soul’s experiences. As we evolve, these seeds begin to sprout again—in the Man and the Chitta (the memory mind). This is why thoughts arise even when you're just sitting quietly in a room.

Spiritual Practice is Key

Unless someone teaches you how to access your subtle body, how to work directly with your spine, your energy centers, and your karmic blueprint, it can be very hard to work through everything you have carried from life to life. Truthfully, even working through the karma of this lifetime can be overwhelming without the right tools.

That is why we need to rely on two things:

1. Personal practice – to make a sincere self-effort.

2. Divine grace – to help us burn the karmic record faster.

Without both, we remain stuck in a loop of repetitive thought and emotion.

So if you are seeking peace—not temporary relief, but true inner peace—it begins by understanding your inner landscape. Strengthen your Buddhi. Quiet your Man. Anchor yourself through breath and presence. And ask for Divine help.

Because peace isn’t found outside. It is revealed when you clear the clouds within.