Yes, a common definition of meditation is the focus on the absence of thought.

But I'm not convinced that definition is entirely accurate.

If you think about it, you can't really not focus on anything because our physical selves are built to focus.

Try to deliberately focus on the "gaps" between thoughts and see what happens...it's pretty impossible actually, because as soon as you notice you are doing it, you are not doing it :)

But we do have a choice about the level of activation of the thoughts we focus on.

The meditative state comes about because one is focusing on less-activated thoughts (like breathing, or natural sounds) and less-activated thoughts have less energy flowing to them through us - and so, less-activated thoughts trigger less resistance within us.

If a cork that is being held underwater is suddenly released, it will shoot back to its natural state of bobbing on top of the water.

In a similar way, less-activated thoughts (meditative states) allow an internal release within our resistance-laden selves that shoot us straight back to our own natural states.

One final thing to consider: Appreciation is more powerful than Meditation

In my view, meditation means being consciously aware of the present moment. Thus, any mental action
or inaction that brings one back to the present moment or what is, is meditation.

Through awareness of consciousness one realizes that one is both the thinker of the thought and the observer of the thinker; there’s no real separation, there’s only the idea of separation. Without the YOU identified as the thinker at the center, there’s only consciousness observing itself.

In that state the movement of thought still occurs, although at a slower rate. However, the thinker exists absent the artificial: judgment, criticism and labeling etcetera, the accompanying noise. So meditation can
be seen as the absence of mental abstraction or noise.

True meditation simply means being who you really are; consciousness (at large) observing itself
(as a universal point of view) in the real time of the present moment.

I feel like I'm meditating when I contemplate a beautiful painting, with no particular thought crossing my ming and no tagging, like 'what beautiful trees/sunset/flowers/girl' etc. Just looking at it, as if I didn't know the names of the things represented in the painting, just enjoing the colours...

To me, that's meditation, so I understand your point perfectly.

BJ09

Yes, meditation is focussed attention. Sometimes that focussed attention is on emptiness, sometimes it is on a word, or a thought, sometimes it is on an activity such as a sport or the creation/expression of art. There are guided meditations, meditation techniques, etc... depending on one's goal. Being deep in thought is meditating. So, yest, meditation is thinking/focussing on something, or nothing.

yes deep meditation is solving all though and emotion until there is no more though then you reach dhyana. after if you continue you reach samadhi. if you continue and see god and he tell and show you in truth that you came to this world to experience this world and that you have free will to come and go from this world it is mahasamadhi. experience and enjoy.

focused attention is focused attention. awareness is awareness. concentration is concntration. and meditation is meditation.

it is impossible to meditate. we never meditate. just like we never sleep. here im talking abt our conscious power to do both the things, ie sleeping or meditation. we cnt sleep willingly. we cn just prepare the conditions favourable, ie, lights off, quiet room, etc etc, and wait for sleep to engulf us. similarly, we cn only wait for meditation to engulf us. concentration n attention is necessary, bt they r prerequisites. they cn b practised by will. n must b practised. originally mind is full of thots. one thot leads to another. n we cnt control out thots, more we fight, more they come. so here we practise concentration..ie.. we try to improve our concentration. this is like n exercise for the mind (nt brain). this gives strength to the mind just like gymmimg gives strenth to the body. initially, the best way to practose n improve our concentration n our ability to focus is by doing tratak. as the mind goes wherever the eyes go, so here the mind will gt limited scope to wander. still it will wander. bt the wandering reduces with practice. after a long time, and observing the other discipplines of yoga, one starts gaining one-pointedness of the mind. now the person cn fix the mind on only one thot/image etc. now here the real thing starts. wen u go on doing this, initially it will b n effort, n u will have to actively do it. later it will start becoming subconscious. it will become automatic/. it will happen itself. here meditation starts and it engulfs u. the period of meditation will go on increasing wid time. this is meditation, n how it is different (rather beyond) from concentration/ focus/ attenti0n etc..

Well I look at meditation as a training means which leads to a particular state of mind. In this state one has abandoned the struggle with ones thoughts, i.e. one no longer engages what one thinks but just observes from a distance. Thoughts have the nature of dragging along their kind. So, one thought leads to the next and so on and soon one is caught up in a inner discussion and or excitement. Since the mind's function is to think it will go on thinking but through meditation one can learn to withdraw inner attachment to thoughts whatever they are about.

Your exactly right on the focusing. I believe the true purpose of Meditation is for cultivating Present Moment Awareness. So its not really about how long you can stop thoughts etc.

Our Awareness OF, thoughts, no thoughts, our breathing or whatever else is happening in the present moment is what's important.

There are many types of meditation. I believe clearing of thought after placing intent is best way.... BUT, when i first started, i did a technique called, simple energy perception. It is simply explained by closing ur eyes, thinking about whatever u hear and feel, and closing ur eyes every second u dont have to use them. Do this for 3 weeks, whenever u dont NEED ur eyes, close them, and experience the world through sound and vibration,,,,, wow o wow, man. It helped me allot. But directly answering ur question, no matter how u meditate, if u take time away from ur ego, u are gaining somthing. I help teach when i am not channeling, so whoever needs help, let me know.

love n light

rob

I wouldn't consider Meditation to be the ABSENSE of thought more of a channeling to a though process you have never experienced.

As far as thinking of something Neutral you hit the head of the nail, so to speak... The best experiences in our lives are ones that we can share in some ways with another if not many. Neutral is just that, common ground. An example I can think of is when I used to meditate (I need to meditate more) is I used to focus on the tiny lights you see in our eyelids when you close your eyes. Everyone sees them, just as everyone can focus on their breath.

I also want to add that Appreciation weather receiving it or giving it. Probably is the best feeling in the world, as its pretty much associated with practically everything positive in this world.

http://dreampatron84.blogspot.com/