QUESTION (resumed) :
How can I both be "awake" and "think about nothing" at the same time ?
QUESTION (original) :
How can I both be 'awake' (be aware of all things) and 'think about nothing'
(be empty) at the same time ?
For me that is a contradiction that I cannot solve
ANSWER :
This is the condition of awakening of zazen, I mean without thinking. In fact, people are always thinking, from birth to death and mankind is totally drugged, intoxicated by his thoughts. While staying in their thoughts, they create a reality which is illusory, and when they stop their thoughts, when they think about nothing, at that time they see for the first time the reality in its totality..
KOSEN!