Finding Infinity in Zero: The Path to Presence and Creativity
There’s a profound Taoist riddle that asks, “What’s the closest number to infinity?” The answer, intriguingly, is zero. At first glance, it seems counterintuitive. How could nothingness, the absence of all, be the closest to everything? Yet, this paradox holds the key to understanding presence, creativity, and enlightenment. To access the infinite possibilities of life, we must start from the stillness of zero.
Zero represents the unformed, the blank canvas, the silent space before sound. In creativity, as in life, the journey toward boundless potential begins with emptying oneself. This idea isn’t new; it is deeply woven into the practices of mindfulness, meditation, and spiritual awakening. To connect with the infinite, you must first access the void.
But how do we reach “nothingness”? In the cacophony of modern life, stillness feels elusive. The mind is like a monkey, endlessly chattering and leaping from one thought to the next. Buddhists call this the “monkey mind,” a restless companion to our daily existence. Yet, even this wild monkey has its moments of stillness. And in those brief cracks between thoughts, we encounter something extraordinary: a glimpse of nothingness.
A Glimpse of Enlightenment
In Zen, this fleeting experience is called satori, which translates to a moment of enlightenment. It’s not a grand awakening but a subtle, almost imperceptible pause — a space where the mind is free from thought. These moments often happen spontaneously, triggered by intense focus, unexpected events, or even trauma. However, they can also be cultivated through deliberate practice.
Meditation is one such practice, a bridge to nothingness. It doesn’t demand the absence of thoughts but rather a relationship with them. Thoughts arise — schedules, worries, reminders — and we gently acknowledge them before letting them drift away. The practice is akin to tying a monkey to a tree. Yet, as anyone who has tried knows, the monkey is a master locksmith, always finding ways to escape.
The real mastery lies not in silencing the monkey but in how quickly we can bring it back. This process of returning to center is the heart of mindfulness.
Techniques to Access Nothingness
The Power of the Breath
Breathwork is a foundational tool in almost every meditative tradition. Controlled breathing — such as box breathing (inhale, hold, exhale, hold) — calms the nervous system and anchors the mind. Techniques like chi breathing amplify this effect by visualizing energy flowing through the body, connecting breath to physical sensation.
When practiced regularly, breathwork becomes a gateway to stillness. It’s not just about the act of breathing but about where your mind resides during the process. A mind focused on the present moment is a mind in zero.Sealing the Five to Open the Sixth
This ancient practice involves closing off the five senses — sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound — to activate the sixth: intuition. By temporarily withdrawing from external distractions, we tune into the internal world. This is often described as opening the “third eye,” the center of intuition and higher understanding.
To achieve this, practitioners focus inward, visualizing energy flowing through the body and gathering at the center of their forehead. It’s not about literal visions but about accessing a deep sense of clarity and connection.The Observer’s Question
A simple yet powerful technique is to ask, “I wonder what my next thought will be?” This question shifts you from thinker to observer, creating a pause between thoughts. It’s like watching a mouse hole, waiting for the mouse to emerge. When a thought arises, you don’t engage with it. Instead, you let it pass, maintaining your focus on the act of observing.
The Rinse-and-Repeat of Presence
The path to presence is not linear. It’s a cycle of forgetting and remembering, of wandering and returning. This is where many people struggle — expecting perfection, they become discouraged when their minds drift. But the practice isn’t about staying in zero all the time. It’s about how quickly you can recover when you leave it.
Imagine wiggling your toes. This small action forces your consciousness to drop from your busy mind into your body. Death, some say, begins in the big toe — the farthest point from the center of your being. By bringing awareness to your toes, you ground yourself, pulling your focus back into your physical and energetic center.
This process of grounding can be done anytime, anywhere. The real magic of mindfulness is in its practicality. It’s not something reserved for meditation cushions or yoga studios. It’s a tool for life — for the boardroom, the commute, the kitchen.
Creativity from the Void
Creativity, like presence, thrives in the space of nothingness. Think of the blank canvas or the silence before a song. These are not empty spaces but fertile grounds for infinite potential. When we clear our minds, even briefly, we open ourselves to inspiration.
This is why so many creative breakthroughs happen when we’re not actively thinking about them. Shower thoughts, long walks, or moments of stillness often yield insights that eluded us during hours of focused effort. In these moments, we tap into the vast reservoir of the unconscious mind, where all possibilities reside.
Building the Muscle of Stillness
Accessing nothingness is like training a muscle. The more you practice, the stronger it becomes. Over time, the glimpses of satori grow longer, and the recovery from distraction becomes faster.
This doesn’t mean eliminating thoughts — that’s neither realistic nor necessary. Instead, it’s about learning to navigate the flow of thoughts with grace. Like a river, the mind will always move, but you can learn to float instead of being swept away.
The practices we engage in, whether breathwork, visualization, or simply wiggling our toes, are the tools that keep us anchored. They are the dojo, the training ground for the real world. As one teaching reminds us: you spend far more time outside the dojo than inside it. The goal is to carry the lessons with you, integrating them into every moment of your day.
The Paradox of Presence
There’s a common misconception about mindfulness and presence: that they are states you can work on achieving. But the very act of “working on” them implies striving for the future, which is the antithesis of presence. You can’t work on being present. You can only be present, here and now.
This is the ultimate paradox. The mastery of presence lies in its simplicity — not in achieving a state of perfection but in embracing the imperfections of the moment.
Infinity in Every Moment
The Taoist riddle reminds us that infinity is not something distant or unreachable. It’s right here, in the nothingness of the present moment. Every breath, every pause, every glimpse of stillness connects us to the infinite.
And so, the practice continues. We forget, and we remember. We drift, and we return. Like drops of water filling a well, each moment of presence adds to the depth of our experience.
Infinity is not out there. It’s here, in the stillness of zero. To access it, all you have to do is be.