...but it isn't necessary for realization to occur. During absolute samadhi thinking totally stops, sometimes for hours. During relative samadhi (hiking in the woods while simply looking around or engagement in some engrossing activity) thinking can stop for thirty minutes or an hour at a time. We can say that thinking can stop AT WILL, as long as we recognize that these words are pointing to an act of oneness as manifested by a particular body/mind. IOW a body/mind, after years of ATA, can choicelessly choose to shift attention to what is seen, and hold it there in thoughtless silence as long as desired. There isn't someone behind that action except as a figure of speech.
When sages, such as Ramana, look at people, they are not thinking at all. They are simply looking. Ramana was known for silently staring in silence at people who came to see him. His mind was still. Only after several years of silence did he begin teaching using words. He later said that his deepest teaching remained wordless.
When sages, such as Ramana, look at people, they are not thinking at all. They are simply looking. Ramana was known for silently staring in silence at people who came to see him. His mind was still. Only after several years of silence did he begin teaching using words. He later said that his deepest teaching remained wordless.
