In most forms of meditation, the meditator is instructed to let go of thoughts as they arise. As a result, thinking is often taken, unnecessarily, to be something misguided or evil. This approach is misguided, says Jason Siff. In fact, if we allow thoughts to arise and become mindful of the thoughts themselves, we gain tranquility and insight just as in other methods without having to reject our natural mental processes. And by observing the thoughts themselves with mindfulness and curiosity, we can learn a good deal about ourselves in the process.

Jason Siff is head teacher of the Skillful Meditation Project. He teaches and leads retreats in Recollective Awareness throughout the United States and in Australia. He is also the author of Unlearning Meditation: What to Do When the Instructions Get in the Way.