Yeppers. we're definitely in a tiny minority. That being said, if only it were even "possible" to stop thinking. It absolutely can't be done. The harder one tries, the more thoughts that appear. But that being said, the great power in attempting such a feat leads one to a baffling conundrum -> "If I can't consciously and willfully stop my own thoughts, are they really even mine"? In my experience, a variety of new angles of awareness begin to appear shortly after this realization.

But until someone really gives it the old "college try" for a few months at least, such a suggestion is utterly ludicrous on the face of it, because "practical thought" is undoubtedly required during certain moments throughout the day. It's that background "Monkey-mind" thought-stream that insists on filling all moments of temporary inactivity and potential silence with its unceasing chatter, regardless of one's own intent and will to shut it down, which can be seen clearly for the first time, and thus open to further inspection and observation.

As to your comments about imposition, ground-hog day, etc., I see this phenomena through the lens of the "old soul" versus "new soul" pointer. I trust by your use of the phrase "true nature" and St. Francis quote, you get the gist of what I'm suggesting and I'll leave it at that.

Suffice it to say, this clearly isn't the board to be openly talking about spiritual enlightenment/awakening. I've endured a couple downvote smackdowns in the past to know better...haha. I've stumbled into a few folks that are of like mind here, but there's no point in upsetting the majority. However, I do often wonder how people reconcile "The Great Awakening" in conjunction with the "WWG1WGA" mantra.

Bottom line, we're all exactly and perfectly where we need to be in every given moment. How could things be any other way, right?

BTW, remembered the Irish spirituality teacher's name -> Jac O'Keeffe. Her book title:subtitle is: "Born to be Free - The Freedom you Look for is Where you Look From" ....quite similar to the St. Francis quote you used. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LVH9D4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0)

It's a real doozy of a book for those ripened and ready to digest such material....