Yogi: There was continuous thinking when I sat. I tried to go back to breathing and sitting repeatedly. At some point, I decided to investigate why the thoughts kept coming. 

When there is some wisdom, do we have the freedom to choose which thought to think and which thought not to?

Sayadaw: Now, we’re at the state where we just observe so we can learn. But, yes, when there is enough wisdom, at least for the thoughts we think intentionally, we start to have a choice whether we should allow it to continue or not. 

Some thoughts get triggered by events, we just know it; there is no need to prevent them from coming.

The thoughts that give us the most grief are the ones that we think intentionally, especially when there is an unwholesome mind, like we keep thinking of a person we don’t like. 

The more unwholesome volition, the stronger that motivation, the more we think about that greed or aversion. 

When there is plenty of wisdom, yes, the mind has a choice to decide if this is useful and necessary or otherwise.