Suzuki’s phrase “thinking about not thinking” points to a subtle shift in the quality of mind during zazen. It does not mean forcing the mind into blankness or waging war against thoughts, but rather cultivating an awareness that is not entangled in them. Thoughts are allowed to arise and pass away, yet they are neither followed nor rejected, neither analyzed nor suppressed. In this way, the mind is present and alert, but not caught by the content of its own activity.

This attitude is sometimes described as “non-thinking,” which is distinct from both active, discursive thinking and from dull, inattentive spacing out. The practitioner remains consciously aware, but the awareness is open and ungrasping, like a clear sky in which clouds appear and disappear without leaving a trace. There is no dualistic struggle to eliminate thoughts, because that very struggle would simply be another form of thinking. Instead, there is a deliberate, mindful non-engagement with thoughts, allowing them to lose their usual grip.

“Thinking about not thinking” thus names a middle way in meditation practice. It is a disciplined, intentional posture of mind that neither clings to thoughts nor tries to drive them away. By maintaining this clear, non-judging awareness, the practitioner embodies the spirit sometimes called “beginner’s mind”: receptive, unencumbered, and fully present.