We have only the mind, in which I, you and others and the whole universe exists

Many people Say:- 

Zen is like a meditation in and unto itself. You will throw off the accumulated 'knowing' of a lifetime; let go of physical, mental, and emotional tensions; relax into the flow of an extraordinary energy; and become silent. As you do this, you will be receptive to the present moment and the potential therein.

but :- 

Until one  throws the accumulate knowledge he  will not be able to cross the threshold of physicality. Until one becomes aware of the fact that , the self is not physical but it is formless consciousness, he will not be able to drop the accumulated knowledge and he also cannot become receptive to self knowledge. Thus nothing helps other then inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base. 

Many people think :-  

In the Chinese Taoist Tradition, they have a method known as ‘Tai Chi'. It is a method of centering, a method of witnessing. They say: do whatsoever, but remain conscious of the canter at the navel. Walking, be conscious of the canter at the navel. Eating, be conscious of the canter at the navel.

Fighting, be conscious of the canter at the navel. Do whatsoever you are doing, but remain conscious of one thing: that you are cantered at the navel. Again, if you are conscious of the navel, you cannot think. The moment you begin to think, you will not be conscious of the navel.

This is a body technique. Buddha uses breathing, breath. Taoists use hara. They call the canter at the navel hara.

but :- 

All this methods based on physical self. Therefore, they are egocentric. They consider the physical self/ego as true self , therefore they will remain unaware of the true self ,which is not physical. The self ,which is in the form of consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in the three states, as their formless substance and witness. The true self is within and it is without the body and the world. Therefore, this body and breath based techniques are not the means to acquire non-dual wisdom.

Some thinkers says: "Remain conscious of your thought process." Whether it is the process of the breathing, or the palpitation of the hara, or the thought process, it makes no difference. The basic thing remains the same. Remain conscious of your thought process: A thought arises: know that it has arisen. A thought is there: know that the thought is there. When the thought moves and goes out of existence, then know, witness that it has disappeared. Whenever a thought goes, and another thought comes, there is a gap in between: be conscious of the gap. Remain conscious of the thought process; a thought moving, a gap, again a thought ... Be conscious! Use thought as an object for your witnessing. It makes no difference: you can use breathing, you can use thought, you can use the hara - you can use anything. There are many methods and each country has developed its own. And sometimes there is very much conflict about methods, but if you go deep, one thing is essential and that is witnessing - whatsoever the method can be.

but :- 

What is the use of witnessing the thoughts, when the thoughts arise to the physical entity. Without the physical entity no thoughts will arise. The breathing happens to physical entity, and without the physical entity there is no breathing. 

Deeper inquiry, analysis revels the fact that, the self is not physical, then what is the use of witnessing the thoughts and breath, when the self is not physical but it is  formless in its nature. The thoughts and breath are mere illusion on the standpoint of the formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self.  one has to  realize the fact that, the innermost  self has no physical apparatus . therefore the reasoning has to be based  not on the form(ego) but  formless(soul).    The truth will start unfolding on its own, when reason is based on the formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self. 

The waking entity is not the witness. The  witness is which witnesses the body and the world together. It is always apart and eternal. It is nothing to do with thoughts and breathing because the experiences, breathing and thoughts are mere illusion on the standpoint of the formless witness. When one reaches the ultimate understanding and assimilation  then he realizes the fact that,  there is no second thing exists other then the soul  or consciousness, which is the formless substance and witness of the three states.

It is better use, less words and try to understand and assimilate ultimate  truth or Brahman. There is no need of any physical based method. One has to just drop all accumulated dross. It is impossible to find and realize the truth via these methods and practices, because they are egocentric and they are capable of yielding half truth only .

Human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  and the personal gods, scriptures, worship and rituals and all the methods and practices are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana . Therefore, there is no need indulge in them. All these methods obstacle to acquire  Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, because they are based on false self and false experience. The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it,  on his own.

It is much easier to understand and assimilate ultimate truth or Brahman, when one tries to verify the facts on his own. We have only the mind, in which I, you and others and the whole universe exists. If there is no mind then ‘I’, you and others and the whole universe ceases to exist.

All that scriptures will not allow one to think beyond the mind.  the mind is present in the form of universe . And the mind appears as waking or dream and mind disappears as deep sleep.  There is no mind in deep sleep. The deep sleep is unconsciousness of the self. The nature of the soul or consciousness or  spirit is like deep sleep. When we consciously become aware of the nature of the soul or consciousness, the innermost self through wisdom , in the midst of the experience of duality(waking), it is Self-Awareness . Therefore, analyzing between the mind and no mind is necessary to unfold the mystery of the mind or  universe or illusion.