I am most certain we have all heard the phrase “a penny for your thoughts”. We have all been told all our lives to think. But recently I discovered how difficult it is not to have any thoughts. Let me explain how I came to this conclusion. A few nights ago, while trying to go from awake to asleep, I tried to shut down all thinking as I was sure that my active mind was the factor keeping me awake. I tried not to think of anything. I then realized that by thinking that, I was still thinking. So I resolved not to let that thought or any other enter my conscious awareness. I took a deep breath and concentrated on exhaling it slowly, carefully resisting all thought. Briefly, fleetingly, I succeeded in having a ‘clear’ mind until I realized that upon acknowledging that fact, I was still thinking as that in itself was a thought. (please allow me a big sigh!)

I have been practicing since with only limited results, coming to the conclusion that the human brain (mine, at least) does not take kindly to not thinking. I am only supposing that those who meditate have some success, but I really have to wonder if they actually attain an ‘empty’ mind. That said, what’s on your mind?