What Is the State of Non-Arising of Thoughts?

When no thought arises, there is no isolated consciousness. When isolated consciousness exists, there must be thoughts, as thoughts are the manifestations of isolated consciousness. The sense-accompanying consciousness merely perceives, discerns, and discriminates. When the sense-accompanying consciousness remains in a state of discernment and perception without engaging in discrimination, it is the state without arising thoughts. At this point, one is also in a state of meditative concentration, where the mind is undisturbed and uncomplicated, with matters being simple and uncomplicated.

How does this state emerge? It is also facilitated by the volitional faculty making decisive choices. When the volitional faculty does not cling to objects and does not wish to discriminate phenomena, consciousness can only comply, existing and functioning quietly and peacefully. This occurs when the volitional faculty has no particular intentions—when there are no prominent thoughts arising from it. If the volitional faculty has intentions, it will impel consciousness to engage in mental formations to actualize its ideas. If the volitional faculty fixates on other phenomena, consciousness will inevitably become distracted to process them, resulting not in tranquility but in agitation and busyness. In such a state, one is unable to maintain stability and thus loses meditative concentration.