A thought (Skt. विचार, Vichara) is a mental experience consisting of ideas, concepts, or mental images.

Thoughts are:

• Patterns of vibrations in memory, specifically in the layer of intellect

• Activity of mind

• Objects of experience, not the experiencer

• Arising and passing away impermanent natural events, not me, not mine

• Not what I am - the experiencer is beyond thoughts

The practice of contemplation uses thoughts to investigate their own nature, leading beyond thought to direct knowledge.

See also mind, intellect.