Yogi: Big stories arose and in the beginning I was totally involved with it. And when it kept coming, I realized that it was the same topic, the craving for recognition and praise. It was hurting and then came aversion towards these thoughts and stories.
When I’m aware of what is going on, when I realize that the stories are useless, I’m no more involved in them and also I have more choices. And when the story comes again, it doesn’t have the same power any more.
Sayadaw: Just be aware continuously, again and again – it doesn’t go to waste because it teaches us something.
Like when you’re watching and you see the thoughts come continuously, at first the thoughts come again and again, and when the mind gathers enough data, you realize although they are different stories, they have the same theme. And then it has this effect on the mind – the mind starts to learn. Then, you start to see that it causes suffering this way; one time you see it very clearly and then the mind has enough power and information to decide “okay, this thought I don’t need to keep thinking it because it is going to do the same thing” and then it stops.
At first, it’s just awareness and there is not enough wisdom. But when the awareness gathers enough information, wisdom comes in.