Is meditation in which the mind gives rise to no thoughts useful?

Question: Is it good to practice by simply abiding in the present moment and being aware of the present moment—thinking nothing and conceiving nothing at all?

Answer: This is the meditative concentration of non-Buddhist paths (tīrthikas), based on the belief that liberation from birth and death and the attainment of nirvāṇa can be achieved by making the mind give rise to no thoughts. If one thinks of nothing at all, how can wisdom be obtained? Without wisdom, how can one escape the cycle of birth and death (saṃsāra)?

However, if one occasionally cultivates some thought-free meditative concentration, and after emerging from samādhi both body and mind feel relaxed and joyful, afflictions are reduced, and the mind becomes subtle and meticulous—then this is precisely a good opportunity to contemplate and practice the Buddha's Dharma through contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā). In this way, such samādhi can greatly benefit contemplative practice and the subduing of afflictions. One should simply not practice in this way exclusively, wasting precious time for cultivating the Path.