hi Etherfish, can you give more information/references on the “thought-stopping” techniques you talked about? Will it make me less capable of intelligentual thinking?
Also, what do you mean, precisely, by stopping your thoughts? When I am not too excited, I can somehow stop it too. But I don’t think I’ve stop all the thoughts. Otherwise how do I (or you) know that you’re “stopping thoughts”? If you know you’re thinking about nothingness, then you are at least aware of that fact. So do you mean you stop the flow of thoughts, while still being aware of your SELF/nothingness?
I’ve just overcome the problem of syncronising breath and mantra. Sometimes they’re still syncronised. But I can seperate them by focusing on the mantra ONLY, may be giving it an initial rhythm different from that of the breath. After that initial seperation, though, they are separated not because of my efforts, but because I’ve forgotten about my breath altogether! I think that’s the way?
Hello there
You seem to make everything so difficult. the mind has a nasty knack of doing that (if anythings this good it should be difficult)In reality it is all so simple Just follow the instructions in the main lessons on the mantra and even better read the little book Deep meditation , if you have it,
Just think the mantra easily with no strain and come back to it again easily when your mind wanders off.
Don’t worry about your thoughts in day to day life as more inner silence rises within you that will sort itself out.
There is really nothing else you have to do.
RICHARD
Alvin wrote:
"hi Etherfish, can you give more information/references on the “thought-stopping” techniques you talked about? Will it make me less capable of intelligentual thinking? "
No it actually enhances intellectual thinking. It took me years of effort. All I did was everyday try to put my consciousness on “nothingness”. God is sort of an energetic nothingness. I favored that over thoughts. The thoughts would always be continuing on their own because that’s what the mind does, but i would always turn away from that chatter and favor the nothingness. i worked on it when I wasn’t meditating by favoring all sensory input over the thoughts. Just being “in the moment” doesn’t require thinking. I found I could do that while driving or anything. Thoughts don’t really help you drive a car! Sensory input does. So I found I was MORE aware of things around me, not less. There are a couple techniques, but they kinda waste a lot of time when we have AYP meditation instead.
Then thoughts started to fade away, and eventually stop. Don’t worry, they start up like an avalanche whenever you want them. We’ve practiced it too long to ever lose them. But if you get to the point where you can stop them at will, the world’s a more beautiful place. Every time
I re-start thinking there is a sadness that comes with it, longing for the feeling I get from stopping them.
I’m only telling you this because you asked, and that’s the path I followed. But having said that, none of that is necessary! Yogani’s meditation is SO much easier and more effective.
Alvin wrote:
“Also, what do you mean, precisely, by stopping your thoughts? When I am not too excited, I can somehow stop it too. But I don’t think I’ve stop all the thoughts. Otherwise how do I (or you) know that you’re “stopping thoughts”? If you know you’re thinking about nothingness, then you are at least aware of that fact. So do you mean you stop the flow of thoughts, while still being aware of your SELF/nothingness?”
Yes, stopping the flow while being aware of nothingness. Not thinking about nothingness, just being aware of it. Awareness and thinking are two separate things. Also, thoughts come from outside us, we just connect with them and choose them. They will always be going on outside us because there is some kind of place out there where all thoughts exist. We just pick some of them like picking fruit, and think they are ours. That doesn’t take anything away from the value of what we do with them however.
It is the actions we take in this world that determine who we are. Whether we are moving toward God or away, and the love we radiate that helps pull other people with us is what counts.
Azaz,
Yes that’s what I do, and it’s quite easy and very effective. I’m just working on removing the rhythm and location to enhance its effectiveness.
Harsh, dude. For some of us this is really difficult stuff, and we’re trying to get some help. But I’ll have you know that it took me but one try when I learned to tie my shoelace. 
Thanks for the ‘energetic nothingness’ suggestion, Ether. That was helpful.
Sorry if I sounded harsh it wasn’t meant that way.
I came to AYP from Hermetics thats all brow creasing concentration and its very hard to break the habit. I took me at least six months to realise how simple Deep meditation is, you just have to relax and think the mantra and thats it.
I wouldn’t want anyone to think I am being harsh I’m not, I’m just concerned. I love you all 
RICHARD