Words are crude little things when used as pointers, so if they don't resonate, throw 'em away. Ramana's silence may be the best pointer, but even he finally started using words as pointers for people who didn't see where the silence was pointing. "Be Still and know that I am God" is a great pointer from the Bible, but millions of Christians can't see where those words are pointing. My words in the prior posts were simply expanding upon the same theme.
The Zen novice is instructed to sit down and watch the breathing process. I expand that advice to include ATA throughout the day. Both activities require psychological presence, and both activities help people come out of their minds and back to reality. As I've noted before, when attentiveness is pursued, it is pursued under the illusion that there is a "someone" pursuing it. Many people practice meditation for years, and never see through that illusion because they think that the activity is special and that they are "making spiritual progress." Until it is seen that the do-er is a product of imagination, they remain trapped in a vicious cycle.
