Therava Buddhism -supremacy of mind

[Zuko95]

"mano pubbangama dhamma"
I have learned that in buddhism the mind is more important. And also our mind follows certain cause effect patterns. If it's true then our thoughts have causes for them. And that means we do not control our thoughts right?

 

[Ablaze]

Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammaṃ vadāmi, cetayitvā kammaṃ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā.

Intention, I tell you, is kamma. Intending, one does kamma by way of body, speech, & intellect.

Nibbedhika Sutta: Penetrative

In Buddhism, the existence of karma, defined as intention, allows space for us to shape our reality via our volitional actions. The fact that all conditioned phenomena (including thoughts) have causes does not mean they are predetermined or beyond control, as the intention underlying our thoughts can be recognized and remodeled willfully. An act of will (karma) can sculpt the ecosystem of the mind, for better or for worse. However, the Buddha acknowledges that of all things, the mind one of the most difficult to control.

It would be better for the uninstructed run-of-the-mill person to hold to the body composed of the four great elements, rather than the mind, as the self. Why is that? Because this body composed of the four great elements is seen standing for a year, two years, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred years or more. But what's called 'mind,' 'intellect,' or 'consciousness' by day and by night arises as one thing and ceases as another. Just as a monkey, swinging through a forest wilderness, grabs a branch. Letting go of it, it grabs another branch. Letting go of that, it grabs another one. Letting go of that, it grabs another one. In the same way, what's called 'mind,' 'intellect,' or 'consciousness' by day and by night arises as one thing and ceases as another.

Assutavā Sutta: Uninstructed (1)

While for many people thoughts may seem uncontrollable due to their erratic and monkey-like nature, the Buddha laid out a path by which one engages in intensive training of the mind so as to uphold the wholesome and lay down the unwholesome. Although the activities of the monkey-mind often seem outside the reach of conscious control, engaging in mental training empowers the practitioner to not be controlled by their thoughts. Despite being the most erratic of creatures, the monkey-mind is also perhaps the most malleable. If we know how to sculpt our habits of thought by becoming aware of them and applying the necessary training, we will be able to harness the mind's plasticity to our advantage and tame the monkey that dwells within.

Our ability to redirect our habits of thought in skillful directions is what makes progress toward liberation possible.