Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 6: The Path of Meditation

Bhagavad Gita 6.25

śanaiḥ śanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā | ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet ||

one should come to stillness little by little, with the understanding held firm. Having settled the mind in the self, one should think of nothing at all.

Modern context

'Slowly, slowly' is said twice, and it is the most practical advice in the chapter. The mind cannot be switched off. It settles the way muddy water clears, by being left still, a little at a time. What holds the process steady is understanding backed by patience. Then comes the finest point: having settled the mind in the self, think of nothing at all. This is not forced blankness, which is just another effort. It is the natural quiet that remains when nothing is being pursued.