Category: No-Mind Meditation

Empty Mind Meditation, Stilling Thoughts, No Internal Dialogue

—Empty-Mind, Stilling Thoughts and Stopping Internal Dialogue—

This article is on the subject of empty-mind “no-mind” meditation, and slowing (or even stopping) the internal chatter and internal dialogue of the mind— all as a result of meditation practice. It is a tribute to what meditating has brought me in terms of practicing mindfulness in day-to-day activities. To me, this is the point of meditation, which in my case is sitting meditation (as far as types of meditation go). I began taking meditation seriously only a few years ago and have seen steady growth, personal empowerment and a tangible peace translate into everyday life.

I had an experience the other day that I would like to share. I found myself at a social gathering. It was a birthday party for a girl turning five held at a public place. There were a number of adults there also. It struck me about half way through the party how incredibly relaxed I was. Of course none of the kids were mine. I’m sure this helped. What I found interesting is how little I was thinking, if at all.

The kids were fascinating. The parents were fascinating. Let’s face it—I was fascinated. I participated in conversations. I laughed when something funny happened. I was involved fully, but I was doing almost no thinking. I found myself remembering how awful this would have been for me in the past. I would have been thinking up a storm. I would have been worried about what others were thinking. I would have been an absolute mess.

I began to appreciate this difference and how far I have come. How had I managed to move out of that old space? What secret had I learned? The truth is that it has all been due to meditation. At some point I just gave up worrying having realized the absolute absurdity of it. What is the point after all? Nothing is going to ever happen the way we imagine it anyway. We can only prepare to be utterly unprepared.

If instead we prepare by not preparing we will be totally prepared—for there will be no prevailing judgments in our way. We will be free to be spontaneous and honestly responsive. So somehow in the last however many years I have managed to integrate this insight into my every day behavior. The contrast between this present state and my past is nothing short of amazing.

I remember the past very well. I remember encountering individuals who appeared to feel as comfortable then as I feel now. I remember how terrified I was of them. They were obviously capable of saying and doing anything. As this occurred to me I felt compassion and respect for where others could potentially be in terms of this process.

I also wanted to just enjoy the new level of relaxation. I was determined to thoroughly appreciate the work I have done on myself—or rather, the work that has been “done on me” by nature and circumstance. I am so grateful for awareness and comprehension. All the struggling and wriggling around of the psyche to let light simply be light—to let light join with all light. It is the light that is doing all the work.

Let the light in. Let the light out. Let the light shine. Let. Allow. Be. Express. All this without thinking—without being overwhelmed by worries or concerns over what might happen a second—a minute—an hour from now. To learn how to let go and trust that we are in the hands of a beautiful and wondrous all-pervasive, all-loving awareness is very sweet indeed.

Related articles include Ramana Maharshi, his ‘”I” Thought’ method of meditation, and non-doing practices.

Transcendental Meditation – Relaxation, No-Mind State

—An Interview with Doreen on TM, Part Two—
>>> Part One: TM Mantras, Meditation – Transcendental, Just Sitting

Meditation How: You describe it as “sitting and doing TM” and I am curious what this means. What were you doing, just sitting meditation? Repeating the mantra?

Doreen: I recall that it was important to sit with a straight back, according to the formal technique. I do not think there was an emphasis on sitting in lotus position, etc. Eyes closed, repeat the mantra silently (in the head)… It feels like there was a prelude to starting the mantra…? I do know that I could see in my forehead region, a feeling of movement and light lines that went “in and out”… felt like a butterfly flapping its wings.

And not having thoughts, because of the repetition of the mantra…. not sure, if the mantra ever got “dropped” within a session, technically. I know it dropped away as I “got into the” deep no-mind state. The tension I felt in “having” to regularly do this, on a schedule… just did not work for me.

Much later on, I could be in any position, almost anywhere… to “achieve” this place of deep stillness. (Without having “correctly” practiced TM technique). I want to add, just now, it came to me, that in some complex way…”keeping the mantra” to oneself (as a secret word) gave the whole ‘thing’ some kind of energy… I feel.

Meditation How: What was it like later when you picked up the mantra again and made it a part of your meditation practice? Also, did you have any clear sense of what you were onto then?

Doreen: Actually, when I picked up the mantra again, the occasions I used it were in group meditation/relaxation settings… i .e. end of a yoga session (taken for exercise), unique group circumstances, a couple interesting retreats. (I may have used it in preparing for the birth of my first child…in conjunction with relaxation techniques)… So its usage was sporadic until 2004.

Interestingly…I started to meditate in the most routine practice I had ever experienced. I got started with “meditation” prompted by a friend sharing with me her new practice of lighting a candle and sitting near a flower/plant. We shared no other information about techniques, etc.

Every time—after lighting the candle, and arranging a flower…I sat on the couch, closed my eyes, began thinking/saying the mantra in my mind… in a very short time, I had to lie down. So I did!! I never resisted this impulse… nor “could” I! I felt drugged, every time. And so I would dream… had lucid (?) dreams…dreams in which I felt sensations, saw powerful images, heard beautiful singing… and coming out of the dreams to sounds as if someone else was in my house….

During this relatively brief period… (a few months, I think)…it took no time at all… to be in this deep state, each time I sat down. I think I stopped lighting the candle, early on!! The mini-ceremony just kick started that time period…No clear sense, AT ALL, of what I was on to!! At least, not in the mind! I had no clue I was on my way to becoming an accidental “mystic?” LOL!

>>> Part Three: Transcendental Meditation Practice and Beyond

Stilling the Mind – Meditation, Kundalini, Letting Go, Breath

—An Interview with Benjamin Dean, Part Three—
>>> Part One: First Meditation – Meditation Experience (Self, Identification)

My body carries some deeply embedded memories from childhood. I was beaten and psychologically abused as a kid. I suppose you could have beaten someone else and had different results. Anyway, I took it personally. It has been hard to dissolve a lot of boundaries dues to fear and mistrust, etc. I have had a slow steady upward moving kundalini working on my energy centers over the course of years.

In 2001 it was in my heart. In 2005 it was in my throat chakra. It is now working on third eye and crown. I feel it when I meditate. I go right back to work where I left off. The benefits are immediate and carry over into my day to day life. I see things change around me circumstantially that reflect my—I want to call it “focused allowing”.

Last year we were in Portland, Oregon and I had another significant breakthrough. I was reading “As One Is” by Krishnamurti and “Be as You Are” by Ramana Maharshi. I was also reading some Gurdjieff. Anyway, I have been using Ramana’s “I” thought technique for stilling the mind. I have been looking for an effective technique for years although it occurs by itself in deep meditation. This too was synchronistic as I was ready to more attentively still the mind. I have a very resistant intellectual side that is hanging on tight.

My progress has been slow and steady because I am a comprehensive guy. When I embrace something I do it totally. Right now there is a tension in my left eye that it moving out. I sit on the couch and meditate next to my wife at night while she reads and I will whimper and cry or flail my arms emotionally with twitches and heavy breathing just letting go of all the old pain. My left eye will twitch and free itself. Images flash of me having to keep my eyes steady while telling my Mother a boldface lie. Afterward, the light of the sun seems to shine that much more beautifully.

Stilling the Mind - Meditation, Kundalini, Letting Go, Breath

I want to address your question on moral fiber. I like Chuang Tsu’s Taoist answer to this. I cannot recall the parable he uses but essentially someone at some point heralded another’s actions as great. By contrast everyone else naturally feels a bit less than. Soon there are groups that venerate and condemn. This is the birth of good and evil. Before that things just happened. It is a group mentality—a societal thing. I believe that one of the reasons it is very difficult to give up organized religion is because of this. Folks are afraid of rampant lawlessness.

It takes a great deal of clarity and understanding to see the inherent morality alive and working in nature. We might not want to call it morality. Perhaps balance and harmony are better words. I was writing a comment on a philosophy blog the other day that got others a little hot under the collar. I compared how leaning over the Grand Canyon feels uncomfortable due to the lack of balance and that it also feels unbalanced to hurt others. Our feelings are our guide, but then try to share that with the folks at the office.

Meditation How: This stuck out for me…”I have a very resistant intellectual side that is hanging on tight.”… I see this a lot as very “dominant” “impediment” for men, and women identified strongly with intellectual ego, etc. in the waking up process… and I see a great purpose in it, as well… not something that needs definition. It is your acknowledgment of it that aids the dissolution, ‘I suppose’… and quite necessary, of course… to have been “there”.

“My left eye will twitch and free itself. Images flash of me having to keep my eyes steady while telling my Mother a boldface lie. Afterward, the light of the sun seems to shine that much more beautifully.” I wish to say something here, that you will either ‘take in or not’… makes not a difference. Can you see that you have never lied in all of your life experience? And that no one ever has?

Benjamin: Absolutely. I totally get that. We cannot help but exude our personal truth. It is in keeping with what I spoke about regarding good and evil. Thank you for the reminder. It felt very kindhearted.

>>> Part Four: Stopping the Mind – Meditation (Self-Knowledge is not Cumulative)