Do you know the story about the scientist
who watched a butterfly trying to emerge from its cocoon?
The butterfly struggled and struggled,
but moved very slowly.
The scientist saw the struggle and decided to help.
He cut a small part of the cocoon around the butterfly
to let it come out more easily.
The butterfly came out. But something was wrong.
It could not spread its wings.
It could not fly. Why?
It turns out that while the butterfly struggles to get out,
it is also draining fluid from its wings.
Only the long path, the struggle itself,
brings it to the ability to fly.
The same applies to us:
We do not practice meditation in order to reach the goal of feeling calm and relaxed.
Rather, the path in which we take responsibility
for directing our attention,
that success in directing our attention,
is what brings us to the result of calm.
The path is so important.
It is a very significant milestone
to know how to direct our attention where we want,
and not let it drift freely.
It may sound strange, but like the butterfly,
we also need the struggle in order to grow stronger.
We need the long path
to develop real ability.
Music helps us reach the result,
but not the ability.
Only practice gives us the ability to direct our attention,
the real ability to fly like the butterfly.
(Further reading: learning to fish for yourself)
With music:
- Feels calmer quickly
- Less training for directing attention on your own
Without music:
- Harder at first
- Builds durable focus you can use anywhere
(Further reading: meditation guide)