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Q: In the guided meditation, we follow the guided words; it seems like one needs to think. Isn't meditation about letting go of thoughts?

A: In guided meditation, people can sometimes feel a contradiction: on the one hand, the guiding words encourage us to follow the direction and possibly reflect or observe, while on the other hand, meditation seems to emphasize letting go of thoughts. This issue reveals a core challenge of meditation, which is how to balance acting and relaxing.

Meditation is not about completely abandoning all thought but rather learning to observe and accept your thoughts without being troubled by them. Guided words are usually meant to help direct your attention, making it easier for you to enter a meditative state. However, this doesn't mean you should force yourself to think or imagine; rather, approach these guides with a more relaxed and open attitude.

Letting go of thoughts is not a state of 'not thinking,' but rather learning to observe thoughts without being disturbed by them, bringing your attention back to the present moment's breath, bodily sensations, or other meditative focus. It's important to remember that thoughts occur naturally and cannot be completely stopped. Through the awareness cultivated in meditation, you can place them in a broader, less tense background, allowing them to flow like a river without resistance.

So, when you are practicing guided meditation, don't have excessive expectations or pressure on your thoughts. Instead, try to treat your thoughts with a kind and gentle attitude, understanding that they are a natural part of your mind's activity. Let them come and go naturally like clouds, while gently bringing your attention back to the object of meditation. This process requires time and practice, but with a compassionate and patient approach, you will gradually find more ease in your practice.

A: 在引導冥想中，有時確實會感到矛盾：一方面，引導語鼓勵我們去想像，另一方面，冥想似乎強調的是放下思緒。這個問題其實揭示了冥想的一個核心挑戰，也就是如何平衡思考和放鬆。

冥想並不是要完全摒棄一切思維，而是要學會觀察和接納自己的思緒，而不被它們所困擾。引導語通常是為了幫助你引導注意力，讓你更容易進入冥想狀態。但這並不意味著你需要強迫自己去思考或想像，而是要以一種更加放鬆和開放的態度來對待這些引導。

放下念頭並不是一種「不思考」的狀態，而是學會觀察思緒而不被它們困擾，將注意力回歸到當下的呼吸、身體感覺或其他冥想的焦點上。思維是自然而然發生的，無法完全停止，但你可以通過冥想培養的觉察力，將它們放在一個更寬廣、不緊張的背景下。

所以，當你在引導冥想時，不要對自己的思緒產生過度的期望或壓力。嘗試以一種友善和溫和的態度對待自己的思維，讓它們如雲般自然地來去，而你的注意力則輕輕地回到冥想的對象上。這個過程需要時間和練習。