So me and a friend were having a discussion and he said it is impossible for anyone to cease thinking for any given moment. I was really surprised and I disagreed and explained that throughout the day I have many gaps in between my normal dialogue of thought where I'm not thinking - just being. There was a time when inside my mind I could not find a place to rest (I think everyone goes through this at some point in life, usually late teens) mostly stemming from an identity crisis (growing up I was told by my parents I was Russian when I later found out I'm a Gagauz/Ossetian mix) and also my dilemma with religion (born into an extremely religious family and I had a hard time giving it up and coping when I discovered Christianity was mostly BS). The religious dilemma still continues to this day but my attitude now is "I will find out when I die" so I've gotten over it to a degree.

Anyway, which do you think is more "normal"? Uninterrupted thinking all day or not thinking at all? I remember when I was younger, most of the time I did not think but was in that "just being" state so I would think that's more natural. I've more or less reverted back to that.

Silence, observing is our default mode. The self that keeps chattering is an invention.

the state of nonthinking but while "aware" is fluid like water
the intellect is like a sword that cuts and separates.

that being said i think both are "natural" and are important for mental health, especially the unthinking state because like you said once you mature you are constantly "thinking". Sometimes you can't shut that off or its hard to.

That constant mental chatter its a lot of what brings depression in my case, thats why I do things like martial arts, yoga, t'ai chi to turn my brain off and live in the moment.

the thinking, logical brain separates us from animals, it allows us to solve problems, build, and invent. it is required to function in a society. The hard part is maintaining that thinking brain so that the thoughts you do have are the ones you want

It depends on the person. I have constant thinking dialogue in my normal state, even when I think I've stopped thinking for a moment I realize I'm thinking about not thinking. Meditation is the only time my mind is quiet. Like Alan Watts said- trying to not think is like trying to iron water, you just create more ripples.

Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed that reading. Minimalism is a true art, especially in the realm of words. Obviously I'd enjoy that as I have in no way mastered the fine art.

I don't think I have ever not thought -
Besides that long moment before which I was naught.

JBArk