Re:Shamatha v. Vipassana v. TM v. Zen

Zen does not attempt to "stop thoughts." Rather, it is a practice of merging fully with what is naturally arising, and then from this persepctive appreciating the biases we bring to life. We can then "think" or "not think" but at no times would we believe our thoughts to be reality.

Vipassana is also Buddhist, and so shares this same goal. However, the methods are slightly different. Whereas Vipassana emphasizes awareness of one's thoughts and impulses during it's initial phase of practice, Zen emphasizes full absorption into sensation (or occasionally exploring the limits of conceptual reflection via Koan practice). But the more advanced practice stages are similar.

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