What meaning has such meditation? There is no meaning; there is no utility. But in that meditation there is a movement of great ecstasy which is not to be confounded with pleasure. It is this ecstasy which gives to the eye, to the brain and to the heart, the quality of innocency. Without seeing life as something totally new, it is a routine, a boredom, a meaningless affair. So meditation is of the greatest importance. It opens the door to the incalculable, to the measureless.
Interpretation
Meditation transcends utility and routine, offering profound ecstasy and a fresh perspective on life.
The quote emphasizes that meditation, though seemingly devoid of practical meaning or utility, carries a transformative power that fosters deep ecstasy beyond mere pleasure. It suggests that through meditation, one can experience life with a renewed sense of innocence and wonder, breaking free from the monotony of routine and opening oneself to the limitless possibilities of existence.
In practice
Sharing this quote during a mindfulness workshop to emphasize the importance of meditation.
The following of authority is the denial of intelligence. [It] may help us temporarily to cover up our difficulties and problems; but to avoid a problem is only to intensify it, and in the process, self-knowledge and freedom are abandoned.
In seeking comfort, we generally find a quiet corner in life where there is a minimum of conflict, and then we are afraid to step out of that seclusion.
If you listen through the screen of your desires, then you obviously listen to your own voice; you are listening to your own desires.
If you have this extraordinary thing going in your life, then it is everything; then you become the teacher, the disciple, the neighbour, the beauty of the cloud - you are all that, and that is love.
Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life - perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it.
All of us have been trained by education and environment to seek personal gain and security and to fight for ourselves. Though we cover it over with pleasant phrases, we have been educated for various professions within a system which is based on exploitation and acquisitive fear.
I think most people are interested in our origins; once we understand, it might be easier to become the people we'd like to be. Or, better, become the people we think we already are.
Conflicts create the fire of affects and emotions; and like every fire it has two aspects: that of burning and that of giving light.
I well remember it being said to me by an occultist of great experience that two things are necessary for safety in occultism, right motives and right associates.
We used to say poor people had lousy genes. Then we decided that wasn't OK, but we transferred the prejudice to upbringing. We said, 'You were neglected as a child, so you'll never make it.' That's just as pernicious.
What I'm saying is that I'm trying to find rational reasons to explain irrational feelings, and that's neveer a good sign.
What makes revolutionary thought unique is its clarity and dignity, and its clear grasp of freedom and justice: simple, clear words that are understood without the need for any help from elite writers or thinkers.
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