Overthinking? Buddhism Asks a Better Question

Overthinking can feel useful because it feels like you’re still working on the problem. But sometimes you’re not learning anything new, you’re just taking another lap. In this video, I look at two early Buddhist discourses, MN 19 and MN 20, and what they suggest about repeated thinking: what kind of thought is happening, where it leads, what keeps feeding it, and when a different response might make more sense, This isn’t about trying to stop all thoughts or treating Buddhism as a cure for anxiety. It’s about learning to notice when thinking is still helping - and when it isn’t Not every thought needs an answer, some thoughts need less fuel CHAPTERS: 00:00 When thinking feels like problem-solving 01:11 MN 19: Two directions of thought 02:17 What is this thinking doing? 03:39 Why repetition matters 04:28 When replay stops helping 05:13 Thinking isn't the enemy 06:09 MN 20: More than one response 07:31 What MN 20 is not saying 08:17 A practical experiment 09:49 An important mental-health distinction 10:20 A better question 10:56 Some thoughts need less fuel Source: Majjhima Nikāya 19 — Dvedhāvitakka Sutta Majjhima Nikāya 20 — Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta #Buddhism #Overthinking #Theravada