Voiding the Mind

Most of us, but not all of us, lay in bed for a few minutes before we fall asleep.  Some of us think about what went well during the day, others think about what did not go well, while others think about what might have been, and still others just lay there and enjoy the silence.

Whether we have been programmed for this or not, few of us recognize the relaxing power in just doing nothing at all and thinking about nothing at all.  In other words, voiding your mind of all thoughts.

Much easier said than done.

We may lie there for a while without thoughts but that typically does not last long and before we know it, some aspect of the day, good, bad, or indifferent creeps back into our minds.  When that happens, we become fixated on that one situation, finding it difficult to stop thinking about it at all, because the more we try to not think about it, that is exactly when we start thinking about it.

Meditation allows us to void our minds or at least attempts to help us to void our minds.

How does one void one's mind?

Removing thoughts is a conscious effort and requires time and patience - over time you are able to teach yourself that skill.

• You need a quiet place
• You need a relaxing place
• You need a relaxing posture
• You need confidence & determination
• You simply stop thinking about anything

When a thought enters your mind, you try to eliminate it by not thinking about it.

• You listen for sounds around you, then remove them from your mind
• You tell yourself they do not exist
• You close your eyes and remove the light
• You concentrate on the darkness
• You concentrate on the void of darkness
• You see nothing
• You think nothing
• There is nothing
• You float around on nothing
• You imagine what you are floating on disappears
• It is just you and your body, and nothing
• Then your body is gone
• It is just you and your mind
• Then you mind is gone
• It is just you and nothing
• Then nothing is gone
• It is just you