1/14/25 & 1/15/25: Memorable Moments

Dates: January 14th-15th, 2025

Time of Day: Around 11:30 PM / Around 4:10 PM

Meditation length: Short (less than 10 minutes)

Notes:

I didn't get to share yesterday, so I'm using this post to comment on two sessions at once, due to their extremely short length (I've been quite busy lately). Nevertheless, Zen seems to yield infinitely many realizations even in undesirably brief meditation lengths:

Yesterday, I decided to meditate late in the night, just to try something new for a change. I went out to that same Buddha statue as before (there's something special about that stature) and sat. It was a little strange meditating this late, and I was quite self-aware (and hyper-paranoid of mosquitoes). Eventually, someone came along down the path near the statue, and I had a very ego-driven thought:

"Wow, I bet he'll find it so strange that I'm meditating late at night. I bet I look super cool."

I know, so self-centered. Immediately after, I waved over to the stranger (it was a very safe area) and we chatted for a bit. The thing was, some of the things that person said were a bit strange, and I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in their company. By the end of the session, I walked home, quite unnerved. I wish I had never gone out there that late in the first place, I had thought to myself. 

Fast forward to today, and I sit down near the statue once again (probably the last, as I'll be changing locations soon) for meditation. Immediately, the realization of what had really occurred came over me: I had brought that unsettling conversation. My ego brought the whole plight upon me. Since I spoke to him with a focus on how I was being seen (intrinsically selfish), I was given what I wanted in return: attention. And too much of it, just like I was paying too much attention to myself. By the time I was done with the meditation (which, again, was exceedingly short) I was quite stunned at how much I had learned in a mere two days. Something about Zen just brings what you need to learn swiftly. It can be jarring (kind of like a koan), but, gosh, it works.