Meditation

There are many forms of meditation, but the one form that I will relate in this post 
is the one that is no-thought/no-attribute meditation (empty cup meditation). 
No thought, in my experience is the foundational meditation practice, 
after which a practitioner may practice other forms, 
such as focus meditation for example.

From my understanding this meditation should not be confused with transcendence. 
To transcend, is to disassociate one's self from the reality of the moment, 
this is not to experience 'life as it is'. 
If we transcend, we are no longer here in this moment we are somewhere else, 
even if it is only a product of thought, it is still somewhere else. 
So do not think in terms of transcendence but rather transformation. 
The practice is all about cultivation of right thought; 
thought that creates well-being and right understanding for yourself, 
your family, your community, your country, your world, and the universe. 
This practice transforms us so that we can end suffering through having well-being in life, 
but we have to be in the world not transcend it.

Meditation on no-thought is right concentration on the very leading edge of the present moment, 
no matter what the attributes of that moment are, do not cling to them. 
The attribute of each moment must be released, 
because as soon as there is an attribute 
you are not in the present moment you are clinging to the thought; 
do not become attached/cling to any formation of thought, 
or any formation from sensory impute. 
Example: "The warmth of the campfire, and the sound of the crickets chirping is so pleasant." 
The method, of no-thought, is to perceive these conditions/formations, 
and then let them go. 
You are not trying to deny yourself the thought (asceticism), 
nor are you trying to judge your effort (control), 
you are exercising and cultivating your brain, 
to have no-thought for peace, well-being and right understanding.

No-thought is the process of noticing thought and then letting go of thought. 
The thought arises, forms, and then disappears. 
This is a conscious effort; it is right intention and right effort. 
You as the practitioner, of no-thought, 
make the choice to do this so that you may have peace for your brain.

Again this is not the practice of asceticism, control, (or transcendence), 
it is brain training for brain relaxation, 
which then in turn creates well-being and right understanding.

If you cannot let go of an idea or thought 
then have a paper and pencil handy so that you can write it down 
to think about that thought later, 
so that for right now tell yourself that this is your brain's time for peace, 
tell yourself that you deserve this peace and so does your brain.

You can use sound as a reference point of the present moment, 
but notice only the moment that the sound arises, 
do not attach any attributes to the sound you hear 
(attributes as sense descriptions, emotions, etc.). 
You can also use a stopwatch with a digital display, 
that will display the tenth of a second. 
To use the stopwatch, start it and watch the tenth of the second, 
it will be the one that moves so fast that you can see the number 
but you will not be able to name it 
before it moves onto the next number, 
let this be the same as your thoughts, 
until your thought formations transform into a vibration with no attributes 
(although your thoughts will probably not form as fast, 
the vibration will serve to sustain the condition of no-thought).

A request also that when you practice please place your phone screen down 
and sound/vibration off, and do not use your phone to take notes during meditation, 
use paper and transfer the notes later. 
You may use your phone for the sound of running water, birds chirping, etc

There is a time factor involved, 
and I do not mean the time spent meditating 
although that is important too, here is a poem of mine, with this in mind;

I surf the ever present edge of this moment in time,

I release my mind from the servitude of self.