If we understand by "meditation" a state of no-thinking, then this state of no- thinking can be created in many ways. One, I talked about: you can use one word, one mantra to deny many many thoughts in the mind - this is one way. But there is a basic difficulty in it, because you will have to use one word so much that you may be capable of throwing all else outside. But then this word will become so rooted in you that it will be difficult to throw IT out. You have used it so much as a device that it will be very difficult to throw it out. Then it will take the whole place; then meditation is not achieved.

 

To use a name as a repetition has its own difficulties. It is easy to throw out all else, but then it is difficult to throw out itself. If you have used "Rama" to throw out all other thoughts, it will become rooted in you, and then you cannot throw it out. It will be very difficult and very painful. Then something else will be needed to throw it out. As far as I am concerned, I never suggest this method. It is better to begin with no word. Then how to begin?

 

Take the total energy of your body and mind as the beginning. Let you total body-mind energy be involved in it. Make it so active - let your body energy, your mind energy becomes so active, so active at the peak - that thoughts dissolve, because thoughts cannot exist at the peak. When your energy is moving vigorously, thoughts are thrown out. Even in ordinary things: if you are running fast, you cannot think. Try it! Go on round and round, running fast. You cannot think, because the whole energy is absorbed by running, and thoughts cannot get energy.

 

We are aware - we may not have understood - when you have eaten much, you cannot think; that's why one feels sleepy. If you have eaten much, you begin to feel sleepy. Why? How is the food concerned with your thinking and sleep? You cannot think; the energy is taken by your stomach.

 

Now the stomach needs energy and the energy is withdrawn from the mind, so mind cannot think.

 

Too much eating will create a very mediocre mind - it cannot think. So thinkers have always been, in many ways, good fasters. They can fast, because the moment you fast the stomach needs no energy, and then the energy can be given to the mind and the mind can think.

 

A Mahavira, a Buddha, a Mohammed, a Jesus - they are all fasters; they have fasted long. And then their total energy is released and their mind can use it.

 

So, as far I am concerned, my method is to let you energy work so totally that mind is devoid of energy.

 

This morning meditation uses this technique. Ten minutes of fast breathing - your mind just cannot get any energy. And fast breathing gives your blood more oxygen; the blood begins to run more quickly, your body electricity is helped by oxygen - it begins to be active. Then ten minutes' jumping, crying, laughing - just going mad - gives your total energy an outlet. Mind cannot get anything out of it; thoughts are dropped. Then using "hoo" - not as a word, but as a sound, remember. "Hoo" is not to be used as a word. It is meaningless, it is just a sound - a mad sound with no meaning.

 

Then using this "hoo," the more vigorously you use it, it hammers the KUNDALINI. It hammers the kundalini; it goes down to the very sex center and hammers. This "hoo" is to be used as a hammering, not as a mantra; it is a hammering, just a device.

 

Now when your energy is in a climax - at the peak - this "hoo" hammers the kundalini and the kundalini begins to go up. When it begins to go up, the kundalini needs your total energy, and mind cannot function at all. Total energy is now on a new route - the route is kundalini. First you have to make it alert and creative - alive. Then you have to force it into the kundalini route. This "hoo" helps to hammer it and to force it through the backbone, upwards - then the kundalini moves. Once the kundalini begins to move, your mind cannot get any energy to think.

 

Then comes the fourth step: just lying down as if dead, the energy moving upwards. That's why lying down is good. If you are standing, then for the movement of the energy it is a bit difficult. If you are sitting, then too it is a bit difficult. So lie down just as if dead, flat on the ground, so the energy can move easily.

 

Once energy begins to move in the kundalini, mind cannot think. No-thought is achieved. And in no-thought, meditation happens.

 

One thing more: no-thought can be achieved in another way also - that is unconsciousness. You can become unconscious; then there is no thought. But then there is no consciousness also. So one can hypnotize oneself into unconsciousness. That gives you a feeling as if you have achieved meditation; you have not achieved. So don't fall into a sleep.

 

But this meditation will not allow you to fall in a sleep. Such vigorous movement of body energy for thirty minutes will not allow you to drop into sleep; otherwise, many meditators feel that whenever they begin to make any JAPA - RAM NAM, et cetera, they begin to feel sleepy, they begin to doze, feel drowsy. That too is a hindrance. If you begin to feel drowsy, if you begin to feel sleepy, and if you become unconscious, then nothing is achieved - except a deep sleep. It is good for health, but nothing for meditation is achieved. It is relaxing, it is refreshing, but only for the body - nothing for consciousness is achieved.

 

That's why I insist so much on this violent meditation, not on silent meditation. Through silent meditation also, the ultimate can be achieved, but sleep comes as a barrier. With this violent, active meditation, sleep is not a barrier at all. It cannot come. It cannot come; at least for ten or fifteen minutes after the exercise sleep is impossible. You remain conscious and alert, with a no- thought mind. In this, meditation can happen - this is just a situation. You cannot force meditation, you can only create the situation. And if the situation is created rightly, then meditation happens automatically.

 

-Osho, “That Art Thou, #23”