quote................In theory I agree. But when I've meditated
1) thoughts become more pronounced, then
2) if they do quiet, they are still there but more subtle, like impressions or flickers of energy, but they still shield me from reality, and the "I" is still there. The disposition to name and label is still there:
Do you use a mantra? I doTM and repeat a mantra. Thoughts come into my mind and if they are important they occupy my mind untill I remember to repeat my mantra. The minor, unimportant ones seem to drift away more quickly than the trival. I also see colors in my mind, colors of all kinds. I have come to associate purple and yellow as a sign that I'm getting deep and transending .About 20 minutes twice a day works to keep my mind focused on the important stuff and either clears out all the minor subjective stuff or files it away for later contemplation.
The benefits of regular meditation are well documented.