How to have a blank mind?

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

Namaste

mithya writes,

I've tried this, and this is what usually happens. When I watch, after a while I get 'caught' in the train of thought. Then realizing I am thinking rather than watching thoughts, I go back to watching; only to go off on another train of thought. And so the game continues. I don't suppress, I make no effort, yet I can't simply watch without getting 'caught' in the thinking process. So where does the 'third way' lead?

Let me offer another POV, not different from the other posts offered, just an extention of thinking about this. Watching thoughts can occur while setting quietly and/or when engaged in activity.

If a thought comes and you 'board the train', and particiapte in the thought, there is no issue. It was simple and your mind does what it does best. It engaged in something that might give a hint of satisfaction. You are doing the correct action by just returning back to the process of watching thoughts. If you whip the mind back, then you cause angst and this is opposite of what you wish to achieve.

Devotee mentions its like watching a flowing river ( which makes sense). Another idea may be this: it's like walking down the street
and you see others pass you by. It just happens. Sometimes you may catch a person's dress and say that was interesting, yet your movement forward was not impelled by the viewing of the person's attire. Like that this process goes. You catch a thought and let go , back to watching.

atanu-ji writes

But before effortless Vichara can take place, the standard yoga methods to gain mastery over wavering mind, beginning with Pranayama

This is good council - that of prāṇāyām. Prāṇa is tightly connected to the mind's movement. Manage prāṇa and you manage the mind.
We know prāṇāyām is the regulation of the breath ( that is why I call it 'management). Prāṇāyāma is a method to control the breath/life force, but at the same time āyāma, to extend it. The ultimate extension is perfect balance, the center or mādhya, of breath-and-no-breath.
Its like turning down the flame of a pot of boiling water. Manage the energy source (prāṇa) and one's mind follows suit. It is said as prāṇa goes, so do the senses. He or she that manages/ befriends prāṇa is able to manage and control the various dimensions of prāṇa - the mind, taste, touch, etc.

But what of this returning to watching thoughts? Or really the process of meditation and this notion of prāṇāyām, what is going on? Though meditation, one settles down the mind� The notion is to experience sūkṣma gati. What is that ? Refined, subtle, awareness.
Svāmī Lakṣman-jū calls this unfoldment of sūkṣma gati, anusandhāna, ever-refreshed awareness.

This retuning to watching the stream of thoughts or back to some mantra, or ones rhythmical breating brings ever-refreshed awareness.

If we look at the word anu+sandha+āna we have anu or orderly , methodically , one after another , repeatedly; sandhi� we discussed on various posts + āna is exhaling the breath through the nose or inhalation ~ breath inspired , breathing. This produces continually refreshed awareness.

Well how does one pursue this continually-refreshed awareness? Vijῆāna Bhairava tantra gives us the methods. This HDF set of posts outlines a few dharana ( a practice, contemplation, meditations) for one to consider: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2323

Again utilizing the breath is simple and one gains results after a short period. This is the method of prāṇāyām and is outlined in 24th kārikā (sūtra) of Vijῆāna Bhairava tantra.

It is through this prāṇāyām method the breath becomes calm, some call this centering the breath and the mind. This centering, mādhya or standing between two, a neutral position, is called madhyamaṃ prāṇam .
So as one practices, madhyamaṃ prāṇam becomes established and the ability to experience this sandhi unfolds. It is here where turya resides.

IMHO If you are watching thoughts and you find no settling of the mind, no refined awareness, no peace or relaxation occurring then some additions to the process may be considered. Yet I find watching thoughts during activity useful.


praṇām


words
sandhi or saṃdhyā (saMdhyA) संध्या - juncture, or joining point.

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

Namaste
I wrote in post 11 above,

the process of meditation and this notion of prāṇāyām, what is going on? Though meditation, one settles down the mind… The notion is to experience sūkṣma gati. What is that ? Refined, subtle, awareness.
Svāmī Lakṣman-jū calls this unfoldment of sūkṣma gati, anusandhāna, ever-refreshed awareness

Why is this fresh awareness so keen to the process? Awareness, being lucid harmony ( sattva) in action dissolves dullness and quietens the restlessness of the mind. It gently but steadily changes its very substance says Śrī Nisargadatta Mahraj.
This dullness ( tamas) my teacher would call stress, and it builds up within the individual within the nervous system ( he called the village of the senses). How so? By impressions made on the individual. Some impressions can be strong or weak but the 'impressions' overshadow the true natue of the SELF. They collect and store and over time cause grief.

This refreshed/purposefully aimed Awareness at finer and finer levels sweeps this away. Śrī Nisargadatta Mahraj said the change need not be spectacular, it may be hardly noticeable, yet it is deep and a fundamental shift from darkeness to light.

I see it as water over time that cuts away corners of rocks, shapes mountains and valleys via its flow. Yet the water is not harder then the rock and is completely fluid, taking the shape of its container, yet when it moves (refreshed awareness) it has the power to shape, re-form, and cut a new landscape. So is this power of ever-refreshed awareness.

praṇām