Meditation is not about eliminating pain, but understanding it. When you face emotions you’ve avoided your whole life, of course it will hurt. It’s through vividly feeling your constraints and pain that you become free. You gain wisdom by recognizing your ignorance. Understanding that sorrow and anxiety are not inherently bad allows you to escape from them. Meditation is not about becoming happy, but illuminating. You have to light up the darkness to understand the light.

Yes, indeed.

Facing your constraints, pain, and ignorance isn’t always enjoyable. Even if you run away, shadows will always follow. Acknowledging this brings a bit of relief to the heart. In a world where sorrow and anxiety coexist with light and darkness, I’ll hand a meditation lamp to my shadow. Let’s live together this new year as well.