We often approach life through the lens of thinking, in terms of how to navigate its currents. This capacity for reasoned action is such an amazing gift. 

We can also observe what is prior to this, our essence, a serene and enjoyable expanse available with a meditative state. 

Often, meditation is encountered in the space between two thoughts. To think voluntarily, we need to do something; we need to start the process of thinking. 

In the context referred to now, meditation, rather than something we do, is our most primordial state. 

If we understand meditation as our essential state, we see that it is already the case; it might just be that thoughts occasionally cloud it a bit. 

Exploring, perhaps we can delight in a meditative state more often. 

We have two kinds of thought processes: voluntary and involuntary. 

In meditation, we do not start the voluntary process, and we simply do not intervene with the involuntary one. 

When we do not intervene, slowly, gradually, the involuntary process slows down by itself, naturally widening the spaces between thoughts. 

With voluntary or intentional thoughts, we are aware and we drive them; we need to make a conscious effort, for example, when we make plans. 

Involuntary thoughts are automatic, often regarded as unconscious, as they occur without our intention; for example, mind-wandering, which is sometimes called daydreaming. These thoughts are frequently associated with experiences or emotional states. 

Acknowledging that involuntary thoughts arise and dissipate without our intention, we can see that we are not merely our thoughts. We are the awareness that observes them, the conscious presence able to choose where to direct its energy. 

Thoughts are tools we use, instruments for conceptualizing and communication, not the definition of what we are. 

If thoughts are useful, convenient, helpful, somehow pleasant, ultimately wellbeing-enhancing, we may want to give attention to them. 

Often, we simply don’t need them for the time being. 

Thoughts are not intelligent by themselves; intelligence is in the awareness that gives life to them. 

If they are not useful and they keep on going by themselves, we can choose to put ourselves, what we are (awareness, attention), in another place. 

Let us journey briefly through the fundamental difference between the mechanical processing of information and our aware experience of it. 

Our brains are very active regarding pattern-seeking; they create thoughts consistently, often based on current sensory input, learned associations, and past experiences. 

Looking at the automaticity of thoughts, we can observe that it is an efficient process because it allows us to navigate life without needing to analyze each single detail consciously. 

Numerous thoughts pass through the mental screen without our active engagement with them. These involuntary thoughts frequently run on autopilot. They can be repetitive or even apparently random. 

Neuroscientific research is suggesting that this mental chatter is often related to the Brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN). This network is observed to be active when we are not focusing on an external task; it is thought to be involved in mind-wandering, thinking about the past and future, and self-referential processes. 

The DMN is also key for important cognitive functions such as social cognition and self-reflection. A healthy brain involves a balance between the action of the DMN and other networks implied in focused attention. 

Because they are not necessarily discerned through attention, automatic thoughts sometimes can be anxiety-provoking. 

We can observe the lack of inherent intelligence in automatic thoughts; they come from mechanical processing. 

Automatic thoughts are basically outputs of neural processes. They are following habitual pathways and patterns; they do not have innate understanding, needless to say wisdom. 

The birth of understanding comes through awareness, when we move beyond merely generating thoughts to actual discernment and insight. 

This is to highlight the key role of awareness in evolving the raw output of automatic thinking into something meaningful, helpful, and potentially wise. 

Our aware nature provides us with the space to choose how we respond to our thoughts. 

A meditative state allows us to see automatic thoughts for what they are: transient mental events. 

An isolated thought does not involve inborn intelligence. Its meaning and relevance emerge from our awareness, the context of our values, and our comprehension of the world. 

As we observe, involuntary thoughts can go on automatic pilot, without an intelligence driving them. Automatic, involuntary thoughts can originate from reading, hearing, talking, from different sources. They often pass by themselves on the mental screen. 

Regardless of involuntary thoughts, we can enjoy feeling the ground, the wind, the bed, the landscape, a walk, sounds, or pleasant inborn sensations. 

Looking, or with closed eyes, we can enjoy our surroundings or our own pleasant presence. We can delight in the presence of nature, of life, of others, of existence, without the need of thinking about it. 

In a meditative state, we grow in the awareness that gives energy and life to thoughts. We are more able to drive and formulate thoughts or enjoy the absence of them. 

Meditation is not about stopping the passing wind; it is about allowing the shallow contents to dissipate and reveal the pristine clarity of the underlying depth. 

As a practice, meditation can be enjoyable. In meditation, we watch, we are attentive, in a state of watchfulness. 

We can also comprehend that a meditative state is simply rejoicing in our common essence, nature. A meditative state is present by itself. 

Often, when we have an unfocused attention, to nothing in particular, to all at once, we can perceive and further acknowledge that our own essence, the essence of others, of nature, of existence, are one and the same. 

Our life is about aggregates, contents, and work, and also about space, essence, and rest. 

Thoughts are often wonderful aggregates to our essence; we enjoy them for creativity, laughing, and sharing. 

Delighting in our primordial state is simply enjoying what it is: a blissful, pleasant, natural state of being. 

Feeling blissful and pleasant, love naturally spreads. Love is another way of referring to our primordial state. 

Essentially, what makes sense is love. 

Enjoying our essence, our most original state, we perceive the inherent interconnectedness of all; we clearly see that love is the greatest sense.