When I think of it, much of my reading, and even writing, has to do with the fact that I cannot bear doing nothing. I can say the same thing about thinking, as well. Although I assume that meditating is a similar avoidance mechanism, I cannot be sure about it because I am not sure whether or not I have ever experienced it. That is, I am uncertain about the difference between thinking and meditating. I am even more uncertain about hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and especially seeing unencumbered by thinking. At any rate, doing nothing or next to nothing appears to be one of the most difficult things for me to do. As I have always been attracted most by things I found most difficult, I have my work cut out for me: I must master the art of doing nothing.

Addendum I (June 9, 2016)

Even the title of this piece is mesmerizing all by itself, let alone the text entire. And the last line spells it out in full. After many trials and tribulations, yoga eventually led me to the mastery of the art of doing nothing. Unencumbered by thinking, I reached liberation earlier this year. That is, a quarter of a century after this piece was penned. But this was the very first step on the journey, which ended up taking much more time than I could have imagined back then. In retrospect, though, a quarter of a century is a mere blip in time. And a wondrous one at that.

Addendum II (April 7, 2020)

Coming across this piece entirely by chance is always a joy, but the joy is so much greater during the novel coronavirus pandemic that is raging across the globe. Millions upon millions of humans are currently in quarantine, and they are quickly discovering that there is nothing more difficult than doing nothing. All sorts of advice are on offer on the World Wide Web, but without great effect. Coping with this condition takes time. Much time, as a matter of fact. As the first addendum shows, the art of doing nothing may well take a few decades to master. For liberation entails abandoning all fears and desires; abandoning all hope for the human species; and abandoning thought at will and for as long as one wishes (“On Liberation,” October 4, 2017). At best, the current quarantine may provide an opportunity to start the long and arduous journey toward liberation. But every step on that journey comes with untold rewards.