The Journey
To Within
"Money brings comfort but not true peace. Peace only comes when we purify the blockages deep within."
How We Eat, How We Live With the Body
The second day of the retreat begins with a simple yet profound question: what does the way we eat say about how we live with our bodies? Our minds never truly rest. They constantly create dreams, assumptions, and worries—even thoughts about food. In this unceasing flow, the most important thing is to always observe and recognize what is happening within.
The body and mind are influenced by everything external—by the ego, emotions, and circumstances. But the breath is different. The breath is untouched by anything outside. When we focus our attention on the breath, we reconnect with our most primal essence—reconnecting with the Source. This is where body and mind begin to heal.
Breath — That Which Never Changes
From childhood to adulthood, our bodies change every day. Our minds carry wounds, layers of memory, and accumulated reactions over the years. But the breath never changes. It is a state of total purity that any of us can touch, regardless of age or past.
When we devote our full attention to the breath, the mind begins to refresh, and the purification process starts naturally. By connecting to that Source, both body and mind are gradually elevated to a deeper state of stillness.
Observe the breath right at the tip of the nose. Be like a dewdrop on a lotus leaf—present, clear, and detached.
A Skill To Be Mastered
Objective observation is a skill, not a natural default state. Just like learning to swim or play music, we cannot be experts from day one. Only quality, persistent, and continuous practice creates true growth—there are no shortcuts.
Every time you sit to meditate, remind yourself that you are not this body, nor this mind. Everything in life is temporary; nothing is worth panicking over. When we perceive things as they are—without adding or subtracting—we begin to live in reality rather than in the stories the mind tells itself.
The more objectively we observe, the more peaceful and realistic we become, and the more capable we are of connecting and taking responsibility for our surroundings.
Where Does Peace Come From?
There is a very common misunderstanding that most of us have fallen into: thinking that when life is full and comfortable, we will be at peace. But reality proves otherwise.
Money brings comfort
but not true peace.
Peace only comes when we
purify the deep blockages
within the mind —
layer by layer, cell by cell.
What needs to be purified are the fears, insecurities, hatred, and burdens accumulated over years of being overlooked. Judgment diminishes peace. Unconditional acceptance expands it.
Self-love does not mean pampering every weakness. Self-love is the willingness to purify, to upgrade ourselves to become a more complete version. Impatience transforms into patience, distraction into focus—this is how we upgrade our entire system.
Memory Layers In Every Cell
Humans differ from animals in one core aspect: the ability to change habits. A frog or a snake acts purely on instinct and cannot escape it. But humans, from birth to death, always have the capacity to transform and always have a choice.
Habitual anger, misunderstanding, jealousy, or anxiety
Every reaction adds a new layer of karma to the cells
The thicker the layer, the easier it is to be swept into the old cycle
Like a person addicted to smoking, each cigarette doesn't just satisfy a momentary urge; it deepens the karmic layer. Meditation is the process of breaking those layers—not through struggle or force, but through observation. By not adding wood to the fire, we let the karmic flame extinguish itself naturally.
Cease Serving Habits
Think of an air-conditioned room kept at 23-25°C. Over time, that becomes the body's habit. When stepping outside into 35-40°C, the body immediately reacts with fatigue and discomfort.
But if we gradually expand our adaptability, the body learns to embrace more than it once rejected. Like stopping a child's sugar intake for three months—eventually, the craving disappears. No struggle is needed, only the consistency of not adding more.
This takes time and often requires a community and a guide. The strength of the Sangha helps us navigate the toughest stages of the process.
Alertness Amid Drowsiness
The afternoon of day two brings a very practical challenge: the state of drowsiness and mental floating—neither fully awake nor fully in meditation. This is the time to remind yourself to return to alertness and focus.
In deep practice, the body and mind will feel uncomfortable—this is a natural process, not a sign of failure. Discomfort not only drives focus but the discomfort itself is what facilitates growth.
There is no need to crave comfort. Have the capacity to welcome all states with equanimity.
The Mind Always Thinks — It Is Not Your Fault
Thinking, imagining, comparing—these are the mind's default and automatic states. You cannot force the mind to stop thinking any more than you can force the waves of the ocean to stop. Working with the mind isn't about struggle; it's about observing with total objectivity. When we observe without judgment or reaction, the wandering thoughts will naturally settle.
Transcending Animal Instincts
What distinguishes humans from animals is the ability to observe oneself. Meditation helps us rise above the nature of reaction—from fear to courage, from automatic response to conscious response. When we continuously observe the breath and remember we are not the body or mind, life holds nothing to fear.
Habit vs Awareness
Stress does not come from the external situation but from how the mind perceives it. When the mind is clear, everything becomes transparent. You are the architect of your own life.
Eating fast food is a habit. Saying whatever comes to mind is a habit.
Choosing green vegetables is awareness. Speaking with mindfulness is awareness.
Most of us do not live in reality; we live in habits and old beliefs. You are not your habits. You are the observer, and you always have the power to choose to transcend.
Habits keep us in the karmic loop. Objective observation helps us rise above all difficulties.
Mandala — The Symbol of Harmony
When we scroll through social media for hours without realizing time has passed, that is a mental loop. The Mandala image—the symbol of the lotus—reminds us of harmony in all dimensions: work, relationships, past, and future. When we break the cycle of habit, life begins to reveal itself clearly and completely.
Before entering the sleep of the second night, carry gratitude and openness. Everything on Earth is temporary—pain passes, comfort passes. Play your role correctly and let the Universe arrange the rest. The Inner Teacher is always there, waiting for you to listen.
The Next Journey
We warmly invite you to register for the next practice journey with the community to break through old habits.
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