Thoughts in the Gap

By on March 31, 2010 in Meditation, Spirituality

Question:

If getting between thoughts is the best way to intend/manifest how can an intention (thought) be introduced there without creating a paradox? (Introducing a thought into the no-thought gap seems to imply that the no-thought gap is a place that needs thoughts for the purpose of intending/manifesting).

Answer:

You are right to see the logical difficulty here if the gap is defined as non-thought and then one is supposed to introduce thoughts into the gap to manifest.  The gap is that silent state of self-awareness, and when one is first becoming reacquainted with it  in the early months  of  meditation, it is a delicate state that is easily disturbed by thoughts and  external stimuli. So when one is in that quiet  state of the gap, whenever one has a thought there, that peace is immediately  broken and one is quickly out of the gap.

Over time however, meditation establishes an inner presence of silence that becomes stable even with thoughts coming and going in the mind. It is at this stage of development that one can introduce intentions into the gap for manifestation.  One can be in the gap, have a gentle intention, and  still remain in the gap.

Incidentally, the process of stabilizing silent consciousness continues beyond the ability to maintain itself even through thoughts in meditation, to thoughts and  even daily activity during the day. Then from there it becomes a permanent silent presence 24 hours a day whether we are awake, asleep or dreaming. This is the state of cosmic consciousness, or the initial phase of enlightenment.

Love,

Deepak

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Time Magazine heralded Deepak Chopra as one of the 100 heroes and icons of the century, and credited him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine." Entertainment Weekly described Deepak Chopra as "Hollywood's man of the moment, one of publishing's best-selling and most prolific self-help authors." He is the author of more than 50 books and more than 100 audio, video and CD-Rom titles. He has been published on every continent and in dozens of languages. Fifteen of his books have landed on the New York Times Best-seller list. Toastmaster International recognized him as one of the top five outstanding speakers in the world. Through his over two decades of work since leaving his medical practice, Deepak continues to revolutionize common wisdom about the crucial connection between body, mind, spirit, and healing. His mission of "bridging the technological miracles of the west with the wisdom of the east" remains his thrust and provides the basis for his recognition as one of India's historically greatest ambassadors to the west. Chopra has been a keynote speaker at several academic institutions including Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Kellogg School of Management, Stanford Business School and Wharton.His latest book is "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul."
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8 Responses to Thoughts in the Gap

  1. Generation x March 31, 2010 at 8:52 pm #

    So well put! Thank you!

  2. ardverk April 1, 2010 at 12:56 am #

    The gap is just a break from thinking finitely. We are infinite beings with an infinite palette and across that 'gap' comes a great master to paint rainbows of goodwill.

    Let it be.

  3. Gyanama April 1, 2010 at 1:01 pm #

    Sounds Good, One who is fully in Cosmic/Divine Consciousness can prove it……Ernest Holmes once said, can a man make a rose bud?

    Can you make a lame man walk? Yes we can when we are in Universal/Cosmic Consciousness….

  4. patriwind April 4, 2010 at 5:52 pm #

    the first sentence of the third paragraph is kind of confusing…

  5. arun raghuwanshi April 19, 2010 at 11:53 pm #

    Just follow Hindu/Buddhist Technique of watching breath and gap between incoming and out going breaths!as described in ''Vigyan Bhairava" Tantra!or simply follow Vipasyna Meditation!

    @run

  6. Super frog April 20, 2010 at 12:28 am #

    The space in between are thoughts the "Gap" as it is called is still, silent, and peaceful. The purpose of meditation is to stabilize this state of mind and expand upon it. As you get better at meditating you will be able to maintain this state of mind 24/7.

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