According to Osho, a thought-free state is not inertness: when thoughts fall silent, consciousness remains without the contracting center called 'I.' It is pure, centerless awareness—'am-ness'—expansive, alive, inclusive of all. Inert existence (like a wooden chair) is unknown and likely non-aware; the difference is living awareness versus object-like insentience, provable only by direct experience.
No-thought means you’re wide awake without saying “me,” while a chair is just a thing and probably doesn’t feel anything.