The Art of Stepping Back: Insights from Meditation Masters on Thoughts and Consciousness

A great question often arises for those on the path of meditation: Can thoughts truly be stopped? While the answer may not be as straightforward as one might hope, delve into the profound insights shared by meditation masters and explore the subtleties of thought and consciousness.

Understanding Thoughts and the Mind

When meditation masters invite you to ldquo;stop thinking,rdquo; it is not about ceasing thoughts altogether. Rather, it is an invitation to see thoughts from a different perspective. From a personal experience of self-enquiry and observation, it is possible to achieve a state where thoughts come to a complete stop, but this does not happen through effort. Effort, while seemingly useful, creates a separation between the thinker and the thought. The thinker, or self, is a psychologically conditioned construct of what one takes oneself to be. This fragmentation prevents a true observation of thoughts as they are.

Simply put, a thought cannot exist without the thinker. Meditation emphasizes the importance of the observer and the observed. You, the meditator, are the meditation. The observer is the observed, and the seer is the seen. Efforting to stop thoughts only binds the observer to the observed, a practice that is rooted in the egoic self. This belief that one must work to achieve or attain something keeps one in a constant state of inertia.

Subtle Guidance from Meditation Masters

Many meditation masters do not invite you to stop thinking outright, as their guidance is more subtle. For instance, if someone wonders what it means to ldquo;stop thinkingrdquo; or how to do it, it only adds more mental activity. Instead, they guide you to reduce excessive thinking. Once reduced, you can use thinking as a means to further reduce thinking. This practice of ldquo;thinking to reduce thinkingrdquo; is both subtle and effective.

The Role of Moderation and Contentment

Can you truly stop thinking? And if so, what would be the benefit? It is convenient to think in terms of a more rigid, black and white “stop thinking” instruction. However, a more useful approach is to consider the concept of moderation and contentment.

While deep sleep is a state where most mental activity subsides, and the notion of convenience does not arise in such a state, the idea of moderating one's thoughts is more beneficial. You can manage your thoughts to be moderate or excessive depending on circumstances, and this can lead to a more content and balanced state of mind.

Conclusion

The journey of meditation is a path to deeper understanding and insight into one's thoughts and consciousness. While stopping thoughts may seem like an impossible task, engaging in the practice of observing mindfully and reducing excessive thinking can lead to a more peaceful and content state of being. The key lies in moderation and contentment, not in the rigid pursuit of a ldquo;no thoughtrdquo; state.