There are a certain number of people who aim to eliminate distractions through meditation and spiritual practice. Is this really possible?

It is not the elimination of distractions, but rather a state of mind where one is not swayed by distractions that should be the goal. I think that in many cases, what is metaphorically called "the elimination of distractions" actually refers to this. While a state where distractions truly disappear is not impossible, even in higher consciousness, it continues to function, while only lower consciousness can stop.

The human mind is composed of multiple functions, but from the perspective of meditation, the following are important:

・The function of "listening" to thought waves.
・The function of "reacting" to surrounding phenomena, causing past memories and karma to "emit" distractions.
・The function of "thinking."

Even if the mind becomes pure through meditation, the "listening" function remains. This is a situation where one might react to someone else's thoughts or to a "cloud" of thoughts flowing nearby. This can be considered distractions, but it is something that will never disappear in social life. Although it will not disappear, as one's own vibration increases, low-vibration sounds (voices) will become less audible, like a radio tuner. However, sounds that resonate with one's own vibration will still be audible.

On the other hand, distractions caused by reactions based on karma and memories will decrease as one continues to meditate and becomes clearer. Although it may not reach zero during a person's lifetime, it is possible to become quite pure. The karma accumulated over numerous lifetimes is vast, so it is difficult, and almost impossible, to resolve all of it in one lifetime. However, at least resolving the karma brought into this lifetime is sufficient. While becoming completely zero is ideal, it is not realistic.

Furthermore, the "thinking" function, which is called Buddhi in yoga, is intentional thinking and analysis, and it is the foundation of intelligence. This will not disappear either.

Therefore, eliminating distractions through meditation refers to the purification of karma and memories, while other functions remain. So, when you hear things like "don't think of anything" in meditation, it is better to understand these three things separately, rather than mixing them up. That is the starting point.

Initially, there is only oneness, and you experience a moment or period of tranquility where thoughts cease. This is a state similar to what is often referred to as "being as is" in meditation, where the distinctions between "object," "action," and "actor" disappear, and these three aspects become one. This is also known as samadhi or satori. In such a state of oneness, all thoughts and everything else vanish. And that is what it means to "eliminate distractions" or "eliminate thoughts."

However, this is just the initial stage. Eventually, you realize that even with thoughts, you can be in oneness.

In fact, in the initial stage, while it is said that "object," "action," and "actor" become one, the aspect of "action" does not appear much. Initially, the "object" and the "actor" become one, but the aspect of "action" is difficult to manifest. This is because the world has a strong physical aspect in three dimensions, and performing an action is associated with moving material things, so the strong physical nature causes the "object" and "actor" aspects to recede. Therefore, oneness initially appears when you are "not performing an action."

This is true not only for the material aspect but also for thoughts.

When you are thinking, you are initially separated from oneness. It is difficult to think while being in oneness. That is why silence and stillness were necessary to achieve oneness. That is fine in itself, but oneness does not necessarily require silence or stillness.

When you begin to experience oneness, silence and stillness naturally accompany it, so the foundation is well established. Karma and memories are also being resolved, and distractions are decreasing. Therefore, you can basically be in a state of no-mind. But precisely because of that, the more you progress in oneness, the stronger the oneness becomes, and you are less likely to be distracted by thoughts as distractions.

Initially, it was important to stop thinking. That is correct in itself, but it is not always necessary to stop thinking. If you have to stop thinking in order to achieve oneness, then you should follow your own judgment to stop thinking. However, if your oneness is strong enough that you can achieve oneness even without stopping thinking, then you can extend that oneness to your daily life.

At that point, even if there are distractions, they are only temporary. Even if a distraction suddenly appears, it is strongly pulled back into stillness by the power of oneness. Even if a cloud of distractions flies by, the aura of oneness will cause those distractions to disappear. Just like a vacuum cleaner sucks up dust, you automatically return to a state of stillness and purity. It is a natural process, like water droplets evaporating in strong sunlight. Initially, this purifying power is weak, and distractions may not disappear easily. Eventually, this purifying power will become stronger, and even when distractions appear, they will naturally and automatically disappear.

In meditation, the instruction "do not follow or dwell on distracting thoughts, let them pass" has been a classic and traditional practice. This method serves as both a guide and a goal. Initially, one strives to achieve this with effort. However, as meditation deepens, purification progresses, and one reaches oneness, one realizes that the initial instruction, guidance, or method is not an "action," but rather a "natural state." Distracting thoughts disappear unintentionally, as they are purified by one's own aura. At such a time, how important is it to consider "whether or not there are distracting thoughts"? Even if there are distracting thoughts, their causes can be various, such as thoughts from others. How much value is there in trying to eliminate all of them?

Higher souls purify these distracting thoughts, and they disappear into the light. In this sense, those who purify more distracting thoughts may be contributing more to others. Therefore, how much meaning is there in "eliminating distracting thoughts"? Initially, it has meaning. However, "eliminating distracting thoughts" is only part of the story.

Eventually, one discerns the true nature of these distracting thoughts and realizes that, depending on their origin, they may not be eliminated. Therefore, one becomes less concerned with the presence or absence of distracting thoughts. Even so, one's own aura naturally and automatically resolves these distracting thoughts, and one's consciousness is guided towards stillness.

Returning to the light achieves oneness and stillness. This also simultaneously achieves various meditation goals. However, once this is achieved, one becomes less interested in the finer details of meditation.

Returning to the light, strengthening the light, and strengthening the connection with the light will eliminate the problem of distracting thoughts.