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There's a famous Zen story about a young monk who was eager to achieve enlightenment quickly. He approached his master and asked, "Master, how long will it take me to reach enlightenment if I train very hard?"

The master replied, "Ten years."

Disappointed with this answer, the monk asked, "What if I train twice as hard?"

The master thought for a moment and said, "Twenty years."

Confused and frustrated, the monk asked, "Why would it take longer if I train harder?"

The master smiled and explained, "When you are too focused on reaching the destination, you miss the path. The harder you strain, the longer the journey becomes. True understanding comes from patience and presence, not from forcing progress."

OzzyHB 9mo ago

On my 2nd day at a vipasana retreat I reach a state I thought I might catch on fire. As I felt/watched the atoms in my body vibrate. 3rd day the teacher described a similar thing "some people reach " eventually ".. Have never got back there :(

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Discussion

Ava 9mo ago

The dark night of the soul can be treacherous, but no one gets through the big picture without it.

OzzyHB 9mo ago

In hind sight, it was epic I think. I remember hearing people leaving the hall, at the end of a 4 hr meditation session. I stayed on, it was to surreal. Eventually, what felt like fire bubbling away in my chest was too freaky, and I let it go..Thoughts of "am I going to self ignite?" Where very real..