I often find myself contemplating Nothing. ...and then lyrics jump out at me to make me think others contemplate Nothing too...

"Nothing can come between us
Nothing gets you down
Nothing strikes your fancy
Nothing turns you on"
- Making Flippy Floppy, Talking Heads.

"Nothing can stop me"
- Piggy, Nine Inch Nails

"There's nothing you can ever say
Nothing you can ever do"
- Burn, The Cure

"And Nothing Is Forever"
-And Nothing Is Forever, The Cure

"Left alone with nothing at the end of every song
Left alone with nothing at the end of every song
Left alone with nothing, nothing
Nothing
Nothing
Nothing"
-Endsong, The Cure

...thoughts? Is there something to "nothing" or am I speaking nonsense?

NOTHING = NO THING

So it is "not a thing" we're talking about? But what is it then? 

Apparently out in space there is "nothing", no air, no gravity... If it weren't for the stars, planets, moons, comets and meteors there would be nothing at all, just blackness? 

Let's let this lady speak... can the video be seen in Australia?

Some artists have already been named. Here are Depeche Mode with Nothing from 1987:

Sitting target
Sitting waiting
Anticipating
Nothing
Nothing

Life
Is full of surprises
It advertises
Nothing
Nothing

What am I trying to do
What am I trying to say
I'm not trying to tell you anything
You didn't know
When you woke up today

Sitting target
Sitting praying
God is saying
Nothing
Nothing

Always
Knows the prospects
Learn to expect
Nothing
Nothing

Quote from: Ulrich on November 07, 2024, 15:34:06NOTHING = NO THING

So it is "not a thing" we're talking about? But what is it then? 

Apparently out in space there is "nothing", no air, no gravity... If it weren't for the stars, planets, moons, comets and meteors there would be nothing at all, just blackness? 

I must admit my grasp of some of these areas isn't particularly strong, but from what I have come across in the areas related to quantum physics it definitely makes me wonder if there is something beyond the appearance of "blackness".

I will try hold off on speculation, as otherwise the lyrics to Step Into The Light may become true. (E.g., It's when your "I believe it's true, I know" I start to get upset).
The truth is i dont know, but I can wonder. I'll describe some of my wondering a little more...

I was referring more to an experience of Nothingness that is perhaps more in-the-moment in one's personal experience, rather than situated elsewhere such as in space. 

Do you ever have the experience of forgetting who you are, or feeling that everything isn't as solid as you believe ...even briefly? It could be in that space between dreaming and waking, by using drugs (a less healthy way!), or in a meditative state (which may be a meditation practice, or may arise from transcendent arts, music etc). 
For me I've gravitated towards strong pranayam / breathwork,  teachings around impermanence, and meditation practices* which include instruction to let go of any preconceptions / let go of everything you think you know (e.g., ideas of right/wrong, good/bad, ideas about who I am etc). ...in going deeper, there is also a role to even forget about this instruction itself ...and deeper, deeper, until one loses sense of themselves, the world around them, time, etc etc.  ....what is in this space? Nothing? 
(* just to clarify re meditation - the practices i'm referring to are not trying to silence the mind or push away things that arise, or experience nothing.  it's more about equalising one's awareness across anything that is present, and allowing thoughts to come and go without getting caught in them ...which leads to the internal choppiness becoming like a calm vast sea, and a natural state of nothingness arising).
One could argue I'm essentially getting into a state of sensory deprivation at such times, and so yes it may be that I'm experiencing no sensory input, no thoughts, nothing.
Yet, when in this space i feel connected with and part of Everything (in a neutral and expansive way).
Therefore I'm feeling like Nothing isn't the absence of everything else, but is instead a sort of transcendent state ...and here is where the lyrics to Step Into The Light kick in!

Anyway, coming back to the mention of space ...I must say that when I look up at the sky I find this experience of Nothingness arises quite effortlessly and immediately... losing sense of time, myself etc.  It is when looking at a star that this particularly happens for me. Do you experience anything like this Ulrich, or do you see it in a matter-of-fact way (ie 'just a star')?

Quote from: MeltingMan on November 07, 2024, 18:48:43Let's let this lady speak... can the video be seen in Australia?

Interesting but I'm not sure if I'm quite aligned with the content here (or at least what I can make sense of). Unless I'm misunderstanding, I hear that its saying that experiencing non-existence has a consequence of Anxiety.  I can see how this may initially be true (like if the ground under one's feet starts to fade) however this would be fleeting, so I'm not sure why the book she's referring to seems really focused on this anxiety.  It also feels a bit theoretical and heavy for me, which turns me off.  However it's a good example of how different content resonates differently for different people.  I can imagine some could listen to this and have "ah ha" lightbulbs moments. I think I need something more experiential.

...which leads into something I realised. I wonder if discussing Nothing is actually quite impossible.  It's likely that no words or discussions can truly capture what it really is.  It may even be that there's a bit of a conundrum perhaps: To try to put words to the experience of Nothing ends up giving it form, which takes it further away from what it really is?

Quote from: MeltingMan on November 08, 2024, 09:54:18Some artists have already been named. Here are Depeche Mode with Nothing from 1987:

Sitting target
Sitting waiting
Anticipating
Nothing
Nothing

Life
Is full of surprises
It advertises
Nothing
Nothing

What am I trying to do
What am I trying to say
I'm not trying to tell you anything
You didn't know
When you woke up today

Sitting target
Sitting praying
God is saying
Nothing
Nothing

Always
Knows the prospects
Learn to expect
Nothing
Nothing

Interesting one, thanks for sharing Melting Man!

Well you asked for it... 

Another one Ulrich! Nothing is far-reaching

Quote from: word_on_a_wing on November 09, 2024, 14:21:08Nothing is far-reaching

There must be lots more.
I think the "working title" of Pink Floyd's "Echoes" was "Nothing" at first.

"We've been crying now for much too long
but now we're gonna dance to a different song
Gonna scream and shout till my diying breath
Gonna smash it up till there's nothing left!"

...it's interesting what happens when you start looking out for Nothing 

...another one...

"Nothing I am
Nothing I dream
Nothing is new
Nothing I think or believe in or say
Nothing is true"
- The Cure, The Last Day of Summer

Quote from: word_on_a_wing on November 30, 2024, 15:47:14...it's interesting what happens when you start looking out for Nothing 

Yeah, it's what someone once called the "red mini" effect. If you start looking out for red mini cars, suddenly you see them almost everywhere.