Stopping thought

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'Stopping Thought' is a term in Zen referring to the achievement of the mental state of samadhi during zazen meditation, where the normal mental chatter slows and then stops for brief or longer periods, allowing the practitioner to experience the peace of liberation.

Paradoxically, Zen teaches that the attainment of this state is not through the normal method of intent and application of skill or technique. As stated in the Zen poem Hsin Hsin Ming:

"When you try to stop activity to achieve passivity your very effort fills you with activity. As long as you remain in one extreme or the other you will never know oneness." - Hsin Hsin Ming

[edit] See also

• Sengcan, thought to be the author of Hsin Hsin Ming

[edit] External links

• Meditation from the perspectice of Zen Buddhism
• Early Zen Poetry of Seng-ts'an