8 Lessons From 24 Years of Meditation

 

I’ve been practicing meditation seriously and consistently for the last 24 years, and here’s what I’ve discovered along the way:

#1 It Ain’t All Rainbows and Sunshine!

Meditation often gets romanticized as this serene, blissful experience. But the truth is, the process can be uncomfortable, even painful, both physically and emotionally. You come face to face with unresolved emotions, racing thoughts, and sometimes overwhelming silence. Zen Master Seung Sahn reminds us:

• “The Great Way is not difficult; simply cut off all thought of good and bad.”
  The discomfort is part of cutting through attachments to judgments and expectations.

#2 You Become Responsible for What You Become Aware Of

As you meditate, you begin to see parts of yourself that you might not like. Once you become aware of your habits, your automatic reactions, and your thoughts, you also become responsible for them. This is where real growth happens because awareness brings accountability.

• Daehaeng Kun Sunim said, “Don’t expect anything. When you do something, just do it because it is worth doing.”
  This is especially true in meditation: you take responsibility for your mind not because you expect rewards, but because it’s worth the effort.

#3 You Are Not What You Think You Are

Meditation breaks down the illusions we hold about ourselves. The roles we play, the identities we cling to—these are not who we truly are.

• Seung Sahn’s famous teaching, “Only don’t know,” encourages us to let go of fixed ideas about ourselves and dwell in a state of open awareness.

#4 Nothing You Think, See, Hear, or Feel Means Anything

The realization that our thoughts, sensations, and perceptions are just fleeting events is powerful. It frees us from the grip of our stories and narratives. Chinul, a great Korean Zen master, expressed this perfectly:

• “Perceive the emptiness of all phenomena and discard the deluded mind.”
  Understanding this emptiness can be incredibly liberating.

#5 It’s NOT What Happens On the Meditation Cushion That Counts!

What matters most is how meditation transforms your day-to-day life. The cushion is where you practice, but the real test is how you respond to life off the cushion. Are you more patient, less reactive, and more compassionate?

• Chinul also noted, “The Way is originally perfect and all-pervasive. How could it depend upon cultivation and realization?”
  This aligns with the idea that what happens outside meditation is just as important as what happens during it.

#6 There Is a Home You Can Take Anywhere

As you continue to practice, you start to carry a sense of groundedness wherever you go. Meditation becomes a portable refuge, a home within yourself that you can rely on in times of stress. This is one of the greatest gifts of meditation—a home you take with you.

#7 Don’t Do Meditation To Be Anything Or Anyone, Or To Go Anywhere

Meditation is not about attaining a specific state of mind or becoming someone special. It’s simply about being present, right here, right now.

• As Daehaeng Kun Sunim put it: “Don’t expect anything.”
  The real journey of meditation is in letting go of striving and just being.

#8 Your Body, Brain, & Mind Is A Time Machine

Meditation teaches you how much you live in the past or the future. When you meditate, you realize that your mind is constantly time traveling—either dwelling on memories or fantasizing about the future. But through practice, you learn to anchor yourself in the present moment.

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These quotes from Zen masters give a timeless quality to the lessons learned through meditation, illustrating the depth of wisdom that has been passed down through centuries. Just like these teachings, the truths of meditation are simple yet profound, helping us discover who we are beyond our thoughts and sensations.

Call to Action:

Are you ready to take the next step in your meditation journey and unlock the benefits of mindfulness and self-awareness? 

I can coach you!

Contact me at endgameacademics@gmail.com for a free 45-minute strategy session, and let’s discuss how meditation can help you achieve focus and calm in your daily life.  

You can also contact me through either my Facebook or LinkedIn profile pages.