Being without thoughts, a new way of being
old approach
At this moment (Mvmacke (talk) 08:58, 3 June 2026 (CEST)) I am investigating to control my attention NOT to go to my thoughts. In the past, when I was meditating, I contstantly used the following technique:
- go to silence
- when wandering off to thoughts
- become aware that I am now in my thoughts
- go back to silence
reaction on old approach
This approach created kind of a battle. Thoughts are not allowed. It is not good when I am thinking. May be I did the procedure above very gently, but still there was this condemming of directing my attention to thoughts. Being silent is good, thinking is not good. Also there is belief involved in this. Silence is good because Buddha says so. When we are good, we are in silence. We are not good when we are anxious, busy, thinking. I strongly believe (...) that belief is something I should avoid. Experiencing, learning from what is there, not believing this and this. A belief is just a thought.
new approach
So I am busy now with this new approach. At the core lies: "why does my attention go to thinking?". If I want to investigate silence, why does my attention do something else? Now of course when there is a lot of turmoil, I understand, it is hard not to go to my thoughts (and feelings). But when there is no necessity, when there is time, why no stay with my attention towards silence? So this is, how I talk to myself. I ask my attention why it went to these thoughts? I invite my attention to direct itself to go to silence. So not scanning my body, not towards breathing but simply listening to nothing. And often I succeed. My attention listens to silence. Immediately I notice that my muscles relax. If I am sleeepy, I fall asleep. If I am not sleepy, I feel fulfilled with this wonderful silence. Don't ask me why. I just like silence.
reaction to new approach
the nice part about this new approach is that it gives me the option for a new way of being. Normally I am busy with thoughts. I am right now when writing. I always am, wether asleep or awake, I am always thinking. This listening to silence gives me a whole new way of being. For me it feels that I am passing through this invisible curtain and I enter a whole new world. That is not as exciting as it sounds but it is kind of cool. Yes, I get these fantasies that when listening to silence all kind of beautiful things will happen to me. God can enter, the universe can show me my path, I will get a clear vision on everything, including on who I am and what I should do. Very likely this is all a lot of BS and I should simply continue listening to silence. My being is a wonderful laboratory where I can investigate, explore, find out. This is it for now.