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They basically mean the same thing, dropping the mind. That is the state of meditation. In everyday language mindlessness means doing something stupid, but this is not the Buddhist context.
First you have to understand the mind, because that?s where you are, that?s from where the question is arising. Unless you understand your space ? the point from where you are raising the question ? you will not be able, even intellectually, to comprehend some difference between no-mind and mindlessness. There is no difference in experience, just two names for the same experience from two different aspects, two different angles.
No-mind or mindlessness is experienced within you. Nobody else can see it; it is purely subjective. With no-mind comes tremendous presence. When you are in the mind you are almost absent. You will be able to understand this once you go into deep meditation. In fact, you will be surprised once you can access that state. You will be walking down the street and everyone will appear asleep. You will understand what true awakening means only when you experience it. Your mind will not understand it, because the state of presence is a state of no-mind. It is beyond the mind.
When you are in a state of no-mind in meditation you are 100% present. You can feel your presence from the inside. The presence of your being is a radiation of a silent state within. That is beyond you, but if you are available, receptive, you can experience something of the tremendous presence of your being. But in order to do that, you fist have to stop all thinking, emotions, imaginations - all activity of the mind. Once that happens, you enter that state of presence, the state of meditation
The presence of being comes into existence only when the person as such disappears. It is the melted state of the person ? the presence ? as if the flower has disappeared and only the fragrance has remained. You cannot catch hold of it, but you can be surrounded by it. Such people who have their being absolutely present ? one hundred percent alert ? are known in the world of language as having achieved enlightenment. You really can become enlightened every time you meditate. Once you empty your mind and become in a state of pure awareness, consciousness with no mind, you are enlightened. But the challenge is to maintain that state 24/7. That can be done through practice and understanding.
So the first step is to have an experience of that state. Once you do that, you will be able to enter into that state whenever you want, but it will take some effort through meditating and practice. Slowly, slowly, you will be able to maintain it longer and longer. Try it, and the first time it happens, you are in for a great surprise.
It's the best feeling ever, and once you experience it once, it starts growing like a seed in you. It will transform you and you will never be able to look at life the same again. Everything will seem alien at first and you might even be a little disturbed, but peace will come later on once you get accustomed to the new sense of awareness.
Keep meditating and you can go deeper and deeper into your own subjectivity. It's like a bottomless hole. It might seem scary at first, but you are in for a great surprise once you finally surrender and let go.
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What is the difference between mindlessness and no-mind (in Buddhism and Psychology)?
