In our quest to attain inner harmony, we are often tempted to believe that it is possible to completely free the mind from the incessant stream of thoughts.

The Illusion of Mental Silence: Embracing the Flow of Thoughts

In our quest to attain inner harmony, we are often tempted to believe that it is possible to completely free the mind from the incessant stream of thoughts. However, examining various sources reveals that such a state is more of an ideal than an attainable goal. The introduction to the issue demonstrates that our consciousness is inherently active: fleeting images and ideas succeed one another with startling speed, and any attempt to make the mind stop proves temporary and ephemeral.

The core discussion emphasizes that even in seemingly quiet moments, our inner dialogue continues its work, often in a dialectical rhythm of cross-claims and doubts. Some sources note that it is during moments of conscious selection and the softening of chaotic desires that we begin to experience the state of “here and now.” However, this calm is not the complete absence of thoughts but rather the ability to shift focus and let go of their superficial content. At the same time, when we find ourselves in a state of seeming isolated stillness, our mind does not cease its active state; even in this apparently silent setting, the thought process continues on a subconscious level, remaining an integral part of our perception.

In conclusion, complete liberation from thoughts remains a utopian idea. Instead, one should value moments of inner clarity and learn to manage the flow of consciousness, allowing oneself to rest and find balance precisely in these transitions. This dynamic process, however debatable it may seem at first glance, defines the unique beauty of our conscious existence.

Is it truly possible to achieve a state in which a person is not occupied by constant thoughts, or is it merely a myth?

Based on the presented sources, it can be concluded that the idea of completely ridding oneself of thoughts proves to be more idealized than realistically achievable. For example, source link txt states:
"Ephemeral thoughts, to which the heart does not cling, pass quickly, like in a kaleidoscope. Our mind never stops and is always busy. Bad thoughts should not be considered our inherent property; they are not from our true nature. The same mind cannot both glorify God and blaspheme."
This underscores that the thought process always continues, even if its content may rapidly change and fail to hold our attention.

On the other hand, source link txt describes a state where a kind of silence emerges amid an uninterrupted stream of reflections:
"Most of that strange dialogue that goes on in our head—yes and no, no and yes—arises from not knowing where we are going; when we know, we can think about something else... Then silence (both mental and physical) happens or develops when we cut off, push away chaotic desires..."
This indicates that even if the mind never stops working, under certain conditions one can experience moments of inner calm when distracting thoughts are released, and the person becomes more receptive to the state of “here and now.”

Additionally, source link txt raises the question of whether a person feels the presence of the moment when they are unoccupied:
"When he goes nowhere, when he is not waiting his turn anywhere, he is at home, alone, and does not fall asleep from tiredness, does he feel himself as ‘here and now’ when he is occupied by nothing?"
This raises the important point that even in apparent silence, the thought process may remain active.

Thus, while certain moments of inner calm and the perceived “here and now” are possible, the complete elimination of mental activity appears to be a myth, as the mind always remains engaged in its activity, even at a subconscious level.

Supporting citation(s):
"Ephemeral thoughts, to which the heart does not cling, pass quickly, like in a kaleidoscope. Our mind never stops and is always busy. Bad thoughts should not be considered our inherent property; they are not from our true nature. The same mind cannot both glorify God and blaspheme." (source: link txt)

"Most of that strange dialogue that goes on in our head—yes and no, no and yes—arises from not knowing where we are going; when we know, we can think about something else... Then silence (both mental and physical) happens or develops when we cut off, push away chaotic desires..." (source: link txt)

"When he goes nowhere, when he is not waiting his turn anywhere, he is at home, alone, and does not fall asleep from tiredness, does he feel himself as ‘here and now’ when he is occupied by nothing?" (source: link txt)