Most of us are constantly troubled and controlled by our thoughts. During the day, while engaged in various activities, it might seem as though we are consciously controlling our words and actions. However, in reality, we are often under the influence of our thoughts. It is only when we sit down to meditate or practice mindfulness that we realize our minds are overwhelmed by countless, uninterrupted thoughts.

These thoughts are always present; we just fail to notice them. Even during meditation, when we try to stay aware, we often get carried away by them. This “getting carried away” occurs when a single thought triggers specific emotions. These emotions fuel the thought, causing it to grow and evolve, trapping us in an emotional vortex.

The way to counter this is to observe thoughts without feeding them emotional energy. When ignored, thoughts become “bored” and gradually leave. By practicing awareness, our thoughts slow down and decrease, eventually leading us toward a state of “no thought.”

However, no-thought doesn’t mean complete unconsciousness. For instance, we might shift our awareness to a specific part of the body. This practice, known as Raja Yoga, involves focusing consciousness on a single point. By doing so, the mind has no space to generate thoughts. For example, you might focus on your fingers, feeling the sensations of raising and lowering them. This is a form of concentration practice.

It’s important to note that concentration exercises are not suitable after 7 PM, as they might overstimulate you and make it difficult to sleep. Whether focusing on the upper dantian, lower dantian, or fingers, these exercises are best practiced during the day.

Concentration practice helps maintain a single thought until even that thought disappears, allowing us to enter a state of no-thought. Some may define this state as enlightenment.

How Can We Achieve No-Thought?
Many people spend decades or lifetimes trying to achieve no-thought but fail—not due to a lack of effort but because they lack specific methods. Start by meditating for 10 minutes today, observing and counting the thoughts that arise. This helps cultivate heightened awareness.

However, during meditation, it’s common for the body to remain still while the mind plays stories or movies, getting carried away by thoughts. To progress, we must monitor the quality of our meditation. Without such monitoring, even decades of practice might yield little improvement.

The Essence of the Tao Te Ching’s Practices
The practices distilled from the Tao Te Ching are simple and easy to understand. However, sustained practice that leads to significant results is extremely rare. The key is the correct method.

The phrase “The greatest truths are the simplest” often feels like a slogan. Initially, we must embrace complexity, accept difficulty, and practice diligently. Only then can we understand why simplicity is profound. This realization isn’t a mental concept but a felt experience or bodily sensation.

I hope everyone can dedicate themselves to more practice and truly benefit from it.

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