View Single Post
  #26  
Old 25-10-2019, 12:42 PM
Still_Waters Still_Waters is online now
Master
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Posts: 4,447
  Still_Waters's Avatar
Quote:
Originally Posted by Starman
If you think about not thinking you are still thinking. Meditation is all about letting go, especially about letting go on the inside. If you are thinking then you are holding on, holding on to whatever you are thinking about.

Some people use a mantra, chanting, as a way to distract their mind from thinking, but then at some point you let go of the mantra. Some people use concentration; they will concentrate on and external object, like a candle flame, and every time their mind wanders they bring their attention back to whatever they are concentrating on.

It might be best to slow your thinking down during the day when you are doing whatever you are doing and then you may have better success at diminishing your thoughts when you sit to do meditation. If we let our thoughts run wild for most of the day it is more difficult to quiet those thoughts when we meditate.

With practice you will get to a point where quieting your thoughts become effortless. Silence is always there, it is just a matter of letting go to it. We do not add silence to our lives, all we do is let go of the noise. Taking a relaxing bath, or doing some stretching, before meditating may also help.

Approach meditation as a solemn practice, say a prayer and ask for guidance, or bow in humble respect, before doing meditation. Approach it with gentle relaxed humility. In meditation you are attempting to open yourself to a greater, more expansive, reality that is within you. It is a divine practice.

Once again, you have posted some excellent information.

You wrote "With practice you will get to a point where quieting your thoughts become effortless." I was just discussing this with a meditation buddy this morning. There is indeed a point where the thought-free state becomes so natural and effortless and peaceful that one does not even want to disturb it with idle thoughts and unnecessary conversation. The "normal" thought-free state is thus restored.
Reply With Quote