1) Because you want liberation, therefore you practise
concentration (i.e shamatha) and insight (i.e
vipassana/vipashyana). Mahayana practitioners not only want to
practise for their own liberation, furthermore, they want to
practise with all sentient beings in mind, meaning practising the
Bodhisattva way and having great compassion for others, wishing to
save other sentient beings as well. Mahayana practitioners also
wish to attain the complete and perfect enlightenment of
Buddhahood. (If you practise for your own liberation, the highest
attainment is Arhatship, but not Buddhahood)
2) & 3) You can relinquish from your thoughts, if you can
practise mindfulness and meditation.
Thusness said,
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Hi LB,
You may want to look more deeply into non-action, i.e., plan but
not be attached to outcome. When engaging with conceptual models,
just work within the laws and conditions of the model. This is
analogous to our buddha nature working day in and day out within
the conditions of our five senses yet not limited by it.
Before stabilization of our experience of Presence, there will be
confusion. No-self is a very distinct phase of our practices;
without going through this phase, we will not be able to replace
our conceptual mode of knowing with intuitiveness and directness.
This is known as the turning point. From intuitive workings into
spontaneity will take some time. 
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Hi LB,
Not exactly. Continuous sustainability of Presence all the time is
the result of the awakening of our prajna wisdom that will lead to
the experience of all phenomenon manifestation as unconditional
spontaneous arising. It is not the result of effort or the strength
of habitual energy.
The beginning of clarity and stabilization starts when we begin to
break loose a deeply held 'bond' in our consciousness -- A hypnotic
bond that is like a magical spell bonding us to our thoughts, body
and self. Feel the power of this bond. It is just a form of
identification and nothing else yet it has such power over us.
Realizing this will help loosen the power of symbols over us, thus
bringing us one step closer to the natural state. We will realize
that we are in the right track when we notice an acute sharpening
of all our senses. We feel very clear, light and bright and
thoughts will lessen naturally. Thought at this level begins to
play a secondary role. We gather strength when Presence beams and
radiates.
Lastly be thorough in no-self. We need not worry too much. The
Presence experienced from the practice of mindfulness will prevent
the over-negation. instead, it will refine the understanding of our
true nature.
PS: 'Mindfulness in Plain English' is a good guide. You may want to
grab it.
