Q. you talk a lot about "no thoughts" as the goal of meditation, but is there anyone else, any tradition, any teaching, that also believes that is the goal of meditation?
G. This is an FAQ to which i gave a listing, in earlier blogposts and presentations, of other lineages or teachers/teachings that say that "no thoughts" is the ultimate goal of meditation.
Recently, a book by Paul Mason has manifested, "The Knack of Meditation: No Nonsense Guide to Successful Meditation", (free .pdf also available as a free e-book) that lists many other teachers and lineages who have "no thoughts" as the goal of meditation. Paul's website "http://www.thoughtfreemeditation.com/, also lists these other folk. (No, this is not the "Former World's Fattest Man", this is another Paul Mason.)
Paul has written several books, including "Mala", "Via-Rishikesh - A Hitch-Hiker's Tale", "The Maharshi", etc.
Combining our lists yields a fairly comprehensive listing of "no thoughts" traditions and teachers.
As an indication of how insightful and valuable his book is, Paul introduces his listing w/a quote from "my" blogpost "Why don't more meditators reach the "thought free state?":
Here is the combined listing:
Nisargadatta Maharaj - I Am That - (contemporary):
"To be free from thoughts is itself meditation...You begin by letting thoughts flow and watching them. The very observation slows down the mind till it stops altogether. Once the mind is quiet, keep it quiet. Don't get bored with peace, be in it, go deeper into it...Watch your thoughts and watch yourself watching the thoughts. The state of being free from all thoughts will happen suddenly and by the bliss of it, you will recognize it." p.244f
"When thus the mind becomes completely silent, it shines with a new light and vibrates with a new knowledge." p.332
"You have fragmented yourself, which is why thoughts harass you."
"To remain without thought in the waking state is the greatest worship."
Dogen Zenji, 13th century Japanese Zen Buddhist founder of Soto Zen:
"Think the unthinkable. How to think the unthinkable? Be without thoughts, this is the secret of meditation."
Dazhu Huihai - Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening (9th Century China)
"This abstaining from all thought whatever is called real thought". IA 36.1.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, fundamental text of yoga, about 2nd century BCE:
"Yoga happens when there is stilling of the movement of thought in the indivisible intelligence in which there is no movement." I, 2.
"Then the seer rests in his own self." I, 3.
The Bhagavad Gita:
"With the intellect steadfast and the mind sunk in the Self, allow no thought to arise." VI, 25.
"For whatever reason, distraction or object, when the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, restrain it from those causes, and bring it under the control of the Self, itself." VI, 26.
The Christian Bible
"Be still and know that I am God". Psalms 46:10.
Bhante Gunaratana - Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist Monk - Mindfulness In Plain English - (contemporary):
"Once your mind is free from thought, it becomes clearly wakeful and at rest in an utterly simple awareness. This awareness cannot be described adequately." Ch. 16, p. 171
The Katha Upanishad:
"When the fives senses are settled and the mind has ceased to think, and the intellect does not stir, that is the highest state, they say." 2-III-10.
Dzogchen Master Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche - Thought Free Wakefulness (contemporary):
"Meditation training...is a way of being free from clinging and the conceptual attitude of forming thoughts and therefore free from the causes of samsara: karma and disturbing emotions...Thought is samsara. Being free of thought is liberation. When we are free of thinking, we are free of thought."
Vigyana Bhairava Tangra - Kashmir Shaivism:
"The very moment that the mind goes wandering, that inattentiveness is to be abandoned, then stillness should follow."
Tao Te Ching
"Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace." Ch. 16
"Stop thinking and end your problems. Ch. 20
Padrino Paulo Roberto - Founder Sante Daime Church - contemporary Ayahuascero
"It's all about having no thoughts."
Hui Neng - Platform Sutra (7th Century China)
"When no thought arises in the mind it is called "za" and to look at one's nature inwardly is called "zen".
"Have your mind like unto space and entertain in it no thought of emptiness"
Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana of Valmiki
"If you give up all thoughts you will here and now attain to the realization of oneness with all." YV 3.17.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika - (oldest known text on Hatha Yoga - 14th Century India)
"...when the mind becomes devoid of all activities and remains changeless, then the yogi attains to the "laya" stage. 4:31
"When all the thoughts and activities are destroyed, then the laya stage is produced, to produce which is beyond the power of speech, being known by self-experience alone." 4:32
Swami Sivananda - Raja Yoga (contemporary)
"Asmaprajnata: Highest superconscious state where the mind is completely annihilated and Reality experienced."
"The yogi sits at ease, watches his mind, and silences the bubbling thoughts. He stills the mind, restrains the thought-waves and enters into the thoughtless state, or Asmaprajnata Samada, hence the name Raja Yoga."
Paramahansa Yogananda (contemporary)
"In meditation, try to go beyond thinking. As long as thoughts enter the mind, you are functioning on the conscious level."
Alan Watts - Way of Liberation (contemporary)
"Meditation is therefore the art of suspending verbal and symbolic thinking..."
"To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still."
"Transcend thought and then the thinking mind, the conscious mind, becomes consciousness. When it goes beyond thought, then it transcends thought and becomes consciousness. The nature of this pure consciousness is Bliss...Being, Inner Being, Absolute Bliss Consciousness."
"As long as the mind is experiencing a thought, so long the mind is a thinker, and the thought becomes finer and finer, then the thinker becomes more and more alert, in order to experience the finer thought, and then the thought becomes finer and finer. It becomes finest and when the thought drops off, the thinker remains all by himself and this is self-realization."
"What is meditation? It is the suspension of thoughts."
BTW, am @ the Truth and Transmission gathering near Bedford, PA giving a talk, "Is It Time for Our New Operating System? A Perspective from Cognitive Neuroscience, Long Term Meditators and Psychedelic Research" and meeting w/folk. This group, founded by the late Richard Rose, a true American "mystic" who was deeply influenced by Ramana Maharshi's teachings, is an excellent gathering of many folk who are seriously into self-inquiry. The group meets 4x/year in southern PA and the "panhandle" of West Virginia. It is well worth checking out. Folk here from as far away as Ireland.
G. This is an FAQ to which i gave a listing, in earlier blogposts and presentations, of other lineages or teachers/teachings that say that "no thoughts" is the ultimate goal of meditation.
 |
| Paul Mason |
Recently, a book by Paul Mason has manifested, "The Knack of Meditation: No Nonsense Guide to Successful Meditation", (free .pdf also available as a free e-book) that lists many other teachers and lineages who have "no thoughts" as the goal of meditation. Paul's website "http://www.thoughtfreemeditation.com/, also lists these other folk. (No, this is not the "Former World's Fattest Man", this is another Paul Mason.)
Paul has written several books, including "Mala", "Via-Rishikesh - A Hitch-Hiker's Tale", "The Maharshi", etc.
Combining our lists yields a fairly comprehensive listing of "no thoughts" traditions and teachers.
As an indication of how insightful and valuable his book is, Paul introduces his listing w/a quote from "my" blogpost "Why don't more meditators reach the "thought free state?":
"Q. Why don't more meditators reach the "thought-free" state?
A. One of the most important limitations is not knowing that a state of "no thoughts" is possible, desirable, or useful. Having few thoughts is not something described cryptically in obscure texts of one small sect. The state of "no thoughts" has been described by many leading spiritual figures in many different traditions."Here is the combined listing:
Nisargadatta Maharaj - I Am That - (contemporary):
 |
| Nisargadatta Maharaj |
"To be free from thoughts is itself meditation...You begin by letting thoughts flow and watching them. The very observation slows down the mind till it stops altogether. Once the mind is quiet, keep it quiet. Don't get bored with peace, be in it, go deeper into it...Watch your thoughts and watch yourself watching the thoughts. The state of being free from all thoughts will happen suddenly and by the bliss of it, you will recognize it." p.244f
"When thus the mind becomes completely silent, it shines with a new light and vibrates with a new knowledge." p.332
"You have fragmented yourself, which is why thoughts harass you."
"To remain without thought in the waking state is the greatest worship."
 |
| Dogen Zenji |
Dogen Zenji, 13th century Japanese Zen Buddhist founder of Soto Zen:
"Think the unthinkable. How to think the unthinkable? Be without thoughts, this is the secret of meditation."
Dazhu Huihai - Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening (9th Century China)
"This abstaining from all thought whatever is called real thought". IA 36.1.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, fundamental text of yoga, about 2nd century BCE:
"Yoga happens when there is stilling of the movement of thought in the indivisible intelligence in which there is no movement." I, 2.
"Then the seer rests in his own self." I, 3.
The Bhagavad Gita:
"With the intellect steadfast and the mind sunk in the Self, allow no thought to arise." VI, 25.
"For whatever reason, distraction or object, when the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, restrain it from those causes, and bring it under the control of the Self, itself." VI, 26.
The Christian Bible
"Be still and know that I am God". Psalms 46:10.
 |
| Bhante Gunaratana |
Bhante Gunaratana - Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist Monk - Mindfulness In Plain English - (contemporary):
"Once your mind is free from thought, it becomes clearly wakeful and at rest in an utterly simple awareness. This awareness cannot be described adequately." Ch. 16, p. 171
The Katha Upanishad:
"When the fives senses are settled and the mind has ceased to think, and the intellect does not stir, that is the highest state, they say." 2-III-10.
Dzogchen Master Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche - Thought Free Wakefulness (contemporary):
"Meditation training...is a way of being free from clinging and the conceptual attitude of forming thoughts and therefore free from the causes of samsara: karma and disturbing emotions...Thought is samsara. Being free of thought is liberation. When we are free of thinking, we are free of thought."
Vigyana Bhairava Tangra - Kashmir Shaivism:
"The very moment that the mind goes wandering, that inattentiveness is to be abandoned, then stillness should follow."
 |
| Lao Tzu |
Tao Te Ching
"Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace." Ch. 16
"Stop thinking and end your problems. Ch. 20
 |
| Paulo Roberto |
Padrino Paulo Roberto - Founder Sante Daime Church - contemporary Ayahuascero
"It's all about having no thoughts."
 |
| Hui Neng |
Hui Neng - Platform Sutra (7th Century China)
"When no thought arises in the mind it is called "za" and to look at one's nature inwardly is called "zen".
"Have your mind like unto space and entertain in it no thought of emptiness"
Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana of Valmiki
"If you give up all thoughts you will here and now attain to the realization of oneness with all." YV 3.17.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika - (oldest known text on Hatha Yoga - 14th Century India)
"...when the mind becomes devoid of all activities and remains changeless, then the yogi attains to the "laya" stage. 4:31
"When all the thoughts and activities are destroyed, then the laya stage is produced, to produce which is beyond the power of speech, being known by self-experience alone." 4:32
 |
| Swami Sivananda |
Swami Sivananda - Raja Yoga (contemporary)
"Asmaprajnata: Highest superconscious state where the mind is completely annihilated and Reality experienced."
"The yogi sits at ease, watches his mind, and silences the bubbling thoughts. He stills the mind, restrains the thought-waves and enters into the thoughtless state, or Asmaprajnata Samada, hence the name Raja Yoga."
 |
| Paramahansa Yogananda |
Paramahansa Yogananda (contemporary)
"In meditation, try to go beyond thinking. As long as thoughts enter the mind, you are functioning on the conscious level."
Alan Watts - Way of Liberation (contemporary)
"Meditation is therefore the art of suspending verbal and symbolic thinking..."
J. Krishnamurti - (Contemporary)
"To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still."
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Transcendental Meditation (TM) (Contemporary)
 |
| Maharishi Mahesh Yogi |
"As long as the mind is experiencing a thought, so long the mind is a thinker, and the thought becomes finer and finer, then the thinker becomes more and more alert, in order to experience the finer thought, and then the thought becomes finer and finer. It becomes finest and when the thought drops off, the thinker remains all by himself and this is self-realization."
"What is meditation? It is the suspension of thoughts."
 |
| Richard Rose |
BTW, am @ the Truth and Transmission gathering near Bedford, PA giving a talk, "Is It Time for Our New Operating System? A Perspective from Cognitive Neuroscience, Long Term Meditators and Psychedelic Research" and meeting w/folk. This group, founded by the late Richard Rose, a true American "mystic" who was deeply influenced by Ramana Maharshi's teachings, is an excellent gathering of many folk who are seriously into self-inquiry. The group meets 4x/year in southern PA and the "panhandle" of West Virginia. It is well worth checking out. Folk here from as far away as Ireland.
Robert Adams: "All thinking has to stop, then reality comes of itself." "When thoughts stop, all is well."
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous. A great quote from one of the clearest, and most under-appreciated nondual folk. One of the great voices from Ramana's lineage. His recorded satsangs are a great resource. stillness
DeleteThank you so much for mentioning Robert Adams. I had heard his name along the nondual channels but hadn't looked into his teachings. There's a great YouTube video where David Goodman discusses him. Search: Robert Adams and Ramana Maharshi - Remaster
ReplyDeleteHi Michael. Robert Adams' "The Silence of the Heart" is a wonderful book and one of the clearest expositions of advaita one could want. Great that you found his work so useful. stillness
DeleteJust ordered it. Thanks from the silence of my heart!
ReplyDeleteWonderful collection, Gary!
ReplyDeleteTulku Urgyen - Dzogchen Master
ReplyDelete"When a thought moves, simply recognise the thinker. The thinking then dissolves. No matter what the thought is about, the thinking and the thinker are empty. A thought in itself is not made of any concrete substance; it is simply an empty thought movement. By recognising the empty essence in a thought it vanishes like a bubble in water."
It really hits home when you see all of these different teachers across sects describing the same thing.
Thanks Gary!
Hi Beau,
DeleteYes, it is easy to reject the concept of "no thoughts" until one sees how widespread the agreement is, in so many different times, traditions, countries and practices. It is so widely recognized because it is the only reliable and infallible indicator, constantly available, and easily accessible, to see where one is on the path to nonduality, and true spiritual awakening.
stillness
Also:
ReplyDeleteOprah Winfrey: "How do we measure spiritual progress? Do you really believe that we measure spiritual progress by the absence of thought?"
Eckhart Tolle: "Yes. The degree of absence of thought."
and:
Swami Vivekananda, Raja Yoga - Pratyahara: "You will find that each day the mind’s vagaries are becoming less and less violent, that each day it is becoming calmer. In the first few months you will find that the mind will have a thousand thoughts, later you will find that it is toned down to perhaps seven hundred, and after a few more months it will have fewer and fewer, until at last it will be under perfect control."
Hi Coph Nia,
DeleteGratitude for the additions, particularly interesting to have Oprah Winfrey involved in this understanding. Also a wonderful quote from Swami Vivekananda. It is becoming widely accepted in so many traditions, locations, etc. As more folk get focused in that direction, meaningful, fundamental change can occur.
stillness
Carlos Castaneda writes “The internal dialogue is what grounds people in the daily world. The world is such and such or so and so, only because we talk to ourselves about its being such and such and so and so. The passageway into the world of shamans opens up after the warrior has learned to shut off his internal dialogue”
ReplyDeleteAlso he describes that the Voice in head is created at the very beginning of life.
I'm not sure if Carlos Castaneda was enligtened one, but I remember several ideas in his books which are quite similar to thoughts of Gary Webber. I find it interesting:)
Thank you Gary! I'm in progress of learning from your works 🙏
Hi Maxim. Carlos Castaneda is an excellent name to add to the list. His books, like
Delete"The Teachings of Don Juan", "The Journey to Ixtlan" and "A Separate Reality" were important in providing a shamanic, experiential approach to awakening.
Great that you are finding this work useful. If you look under "Show More" in any of my videos, you'll see links to all of my work, all free in some format.
stillness
Thank you! 🙏
Delete