In short: Racing thoughts are not new. The Buddha described the mind as quivering, flighty and hard to hold, and he gave simple instructions for settling it: let experience be just experience, and straighten the mind patiently, like a craftsman straightens an arrow.
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The Buddha's words
In the seen will be merely the seen; in the heard will be merely the heard; in the thought will be merely the thought; in the known will be merely the known.
Diṭṭhe diṭṭhamattaṁ bhavissati, sute sutamattaṁ bhavissati, mute mutamattaṁ bhavissati, viññāte viññātamattaṁ bhavissati.
Ud 1.10 (SuttaCentral), translated by Bhikkhu Sujato.
The mind quivers and quakes, hard to guard, hard to curb. The discerning straighten it out, like a fletcher an arrow.
Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ; Ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, usukārova tejanaṁ.
Dhammapada 33 (SuttaCentral), translated by Bhikkhu Sujato.
Hard to hold back, flighty, alighting where it will; it’s good to tame the mind; a tamed mind leads to bliss.
Dunniggahassa lahuno, yatthakāmanipātino; Cittassa damatho sādhu, cittaṁ dantaṁ sukhāvahaṁ.
Dhammapada 35 (SuttaCentral), translated by Bhikkhu Sujato.
A one-minute practice for a busy mind
- Look at one thing: "seeing". Hear one sound: "hearing". Notice one thought: "thinking".
- Don't follow the story; return to the next breath.
- Do one thing at a time for the next ten minutes.
Read more: the Bāhiya Sutta, the five hindrances and mindfulness of breathing.
Try it
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Questions people ask
What did the Buddha teach about overthinking?
He taught Bāhiya: 'In the seen will be merely the seen; in the heard will be merely the heard; in the thought will be merely the thought' (Ud 1.10), letting experience be without adding stories.
How do you calm a busy mind in Buddhism?
With mindfulness of breathing, noting experience simply, and patient training: 'it's good to tame the mind; a tamed mind leads to bliss' (Dhp 35).