Meditation: Learning To Think

Thinking is a challenging endeavor, and not everyone embraces it. Many individuals engage in mere rearrangement of their ideas without truly thinking. Others resort to hiring others—common in modern education and religion—to do their thinking for them. True thinking is a personal journey of self-awareness and recognition of one’s surroundings—be they biological, psychological, mental, social, physical, or spiritual.Thinking is not a collective activity; it is inherently personal. You either think for yourself or allow someone else to think for you, resulting in your own intellectual servitude. A person who actively engages in thought is vibrant and alive, while one who does not is stagnant, akin to a slave. To think is to explore, understand, and appreciate your essence and your journey.Biblically and philosophically, thinking is akin to meditation, which necessitates attention and solitude. A person who is uncomfortable in their own company cannot engage in meaningful thought; thus, a thinker is, by nature, a meditator. Learning to think often requires a degree of isolation—from friends, family, and various social engagements—not out of disdain for them, but because such distractions may hinder your personal growth and self-discovery.Thinking demands time, attention, and silence. Initially, it requires a period of preparation—a ‘booting’ phase—before one can begin the process of deep thought. This phase cannot be rushed. Focus is essential for effective thinking, which is why a quiet environment is crucial. Distractions, whether social or physical, disrupt the internal dialogue necessary for deep introspection. It is vital to spend more time attuning to the subtle whispers of our minds rather than the clamor of the outside world. To think effectively, we must embrace silence; we cannot both create noise and think simultaneously—this is inherently contradictory.In essence, cultivating the ability to think critically and creatively involves embracing solitude and engaging deeply with oneself. It’s an invitation to uncover the layers of one’s own consciousness, stepping away from distraction and towards profound understanding.At the core of thoughtful consideration lies the question. Questions are fundamental steps in the process of thinking, as all contemplation begins with inquiry. They serve as the key to fostering a dialogue—not only with ourselves but also with the world around us.Every answer is a by-product of the questions we pose. The quality of our answers hinges on the quality of our inquiries; effective answers emerge from profound questions, while inadequate answers stem from superficial ones. Our intelligence is ultimately reflected in the nature and enduring value of the questions we ask, rather than in the answers themselves.To think is to innovate, and questions initiate this creative process. Regrettably, many people seldom engage in critical or creative questioning. A tendency exists to accept ideas, traditions, and beliefs uncritically, often without exploring their true nature. We consume information indiscriminately, often without understanding its implications. Even worse, we may expend our time and resources defending positions we do not fully comprehend.I contend that if we were to honestly interrogate our beliefs and philosophies, we might discover that many, if not all, of the illusions we fight for are ultimately unworthy. Questions act as gateways to dialogue, and through dialogue, understanding flourishes. Asking questions is not an act of defiance; rather, it is a pursuit of truth and meaning that sparks conversation.At TABS, we embrace critical and creative questioning and remain receptive to where these inquiries may lead us. We deliberately avoid manipulating, twisting, or constraining questions to fit our preconceived notions. We recognize that the journey of inquiry is rewarding in itself, revealing previously unknown insights along the way.We invite you to join us on this journey of thought and dialogue. Below is a list of significant questions that we often overlook. Remarkably, extraordinary insights frequently arise from the seemingly insignificant and mundane, suggesting that the old can indeed give birth to the new.