Letting go of thoughts in meditation

Some ideas related to thoughts in meditation. A few points may be relevant only to Sahaj Marg meditation.

When a thought, say t1, arises, other related thoughts, t2-t3-t4,etc. follow.

Generally I become aware of the thought stream or thought chain not at t1 or t2, but later, maybe at t5 or t10.

No matter how far down a chain I go before becoming aware, to extricate myself is very simple.

I let go.

Imagine, if you like, a helium balloon suddenly appears and you are holding on to its string. To let go, I simply open my hand, and the balloon drifts away. Further, suppose that the balloon in my hand was tied to others. By letting go of one, I let go of the entire set of balloons.

When a thought chain is released, my mind, or my attention, automatically goes back to the previous activity. This activity is the idea of the light in the heart, resting in its presence, getting pulled inwards by the source of the Divine light, etc. Essentially, feeling the presence of the light in the heart.

So really speaking, I do do some very subtle activity in meditation. I start meditating, after a while (short or long), a thought chain arises, I let go and return to the starting thought, another chain arises, again I let go and return.

Keep repeating gently, affectionately, patiently, tirelessly, lightly. Use as little energy as possible. Especially when what comes up is a strong thought, or even an intense emotion or physical sensation.

I don't need to keep a watch for thoughts or emotions or sensations, though, they will arise on their own. Due to Master's cleaning if I am meditating or in satsangh, or due to the preceptor's cleaning if I am taking a sitting.

The progression should be:

1. fewer and fewer, almost nil, emotional, I-based, thoughts of recent past and near future, once the conscious level is cleaned or emptied.

2. ditto for far past and future, once the subconscious level is cleaned

3. reversal from incessant thought streams to a mostly silent mind with only "mechanical" thoughts arising as needed for events in the material world.