It is often stated that the purpose of sadhana is to quieten the mind. That there is a thoughtless state that one must attain. Is there a thoughtless state? If so, what is that thoughtlessness. Yes, Samadhi is said to be a state akin to deep sleep devoid of both mind and body consciousness and therefore a thoughtless state. But achieving Samadhi is a very tall order. May or may not happen in one’s lifetime. How would one experience something very similar without reaching the state of Samadhi?
The “I” or the “Ego” thought is the original thought. The samsara begins with that thought. If there’s a thought, such as “flower is beautiful”, and it does not reference anything from the past (for example, not comparing it to a flower seen yesterday), it becomes a fleeting thought with the ego unattached to that and leaves no impression. There are many such thoughts every day which arise and pass without consequence. The thoughts that bind us are those that identifies with the Ego “I” and it is in these thoughts that we delve & which we become entangled most of the time.
But there is a profound experience known as the “present moment.” Though it is seen as a part of the continuum called time – comprising past, present and the future – a deeper analysis reveals that the present moment is beyond time. The present moment always exists; it is ever-present and does not possess a past or future. It is thought that creates the illusion of continuity by linking the present moment with past and future events through the Ego.
Is there a thought without the Ego sense? Many such thoughts arise throughout each day, without any sense of “I” attached. For example, hearing the whirling sound of a fan is recognised, and thus constitutes a thought. However, it does not linger or contribute to one’s sense of Ego—it simply arises and passes without leaving any impression. Similarly, when walking down a street and seeing numerous people, most leave no impression. However, if one encounters an individual who brings up unpleasant memories, an aversion arises, leaving an impression that accumulates in the Ego. The first type of thought that records the event but leaves no impression can be called as “choiceless awareness” while the second type creates attachment and is binding.
The above observations guide us to understand what thoughtlessness truly means in our everyday lives and how it can be experienced. Firstly, there is only one moment – the “present moment” and it is not part of time. If one enquires at any given moment about what is happening in the present, the answer is often “nothing.” There is neither bother, pain, nor pleasure; the present moment simply is. A bother, pain or pleasure is always in relation to what has happened in the past or an expectation from the present moment, which again is a past thought.
Thus, it is possible to be in the present moment with the thought recognition of what’s happening now but not getting attached to that. Once the Ego does not get attached to the thought, that’s freedom. That’s thoughtlessness – a state where a thought arises and passes without leaving an impression. Such impression less thoughts can be experienced by anyone at any point of time, and once the experience of “present moment” expands, there is tranquillity within. In fact, this naturally occurs daily without conscious recognition, providing a sense of sanity. Else, attaching every moment of waking life to the “I” thought is sure shot recipe for depression and disaster.
