Q: What should be our state of mind. My mind full of thoughts. So, through meditation we try to empty those thoughts?
A: The ideal state of mind is one that is bright, calm, clear, free from worries, and happy within itself. This is a universal pursuit for all humans. Some people believe that happiness comes from traveling and witnessing beautiful things, while others seek it through fine dining or accumulating wealth. However, true and lasting happiness is not far away—it resides within us.
When we bring our minds back to ourselves, we experience boundless happiness. But because we are unaware of this, we search for happiness externally through sights, tastes, smells, sounds, and touches—things that are impermanent and beyond our control. As a result, we fail to find true happiness.
The more we seek happiness outside ourselves, the further our minds drift from the source of true joy. This leads to a habitual attachment to thoughts and emotions, drawing us into external stories and experiences. With the rise of social media, the exposure to information and news has significantly increased, making it unsurprising that our minds are often crowded with thoughts.
Meditation is a gradual process of guiding the mind back to oneself without force or suppression. The mind does not like pressure. The key is to relax the body and mind, allowing comfort to lead the way. Gradually, the mind will calm down and experience genuine happiness on its own.
During meditation, thoughts may arise continuously. Our task is to acknowledge them without engaging. It is like someone knocking at the door, but we do not open it. Eventually, the thoughts will fade away.
In the early stages of meditation, we may find ourselves following our thoughts. When this happens, simply return to the comfort of the body and mind. If thoughts become overwhelming, open your eyes, observe your surroundings, relax the body, and then resume meditating.
Regular meditation practice helps the mind return to a state of calm and lightness. We cannot suppress thoughts by force, but through familiarizing ourselves with the inner peace that already exists. As the mind grows accustomed to this calm, true and lasting happiness will emerge, even amidst the distractions of the world.
