📖 Introduction
Business struggles, anger, stress, inferiority, alcohol dependence, and emotional suffering can gradually consume both relationships and daily life.
Many people work hard for years while carrying resentment, frustration, pride, emotional exhaustion, and self-centered thinking without realizing how deeply those minds affect themselves and the people around them.
This meditation testimonial shares the story of Chul P., a self-employed restaurant owner who spent nearly thirty years working in the Japanese restaurant industry.
Although he once successfully operated a large high-end restaurant in downtown Seoul, unexpected business setbacks and financial difficulties eventually filled him with anger, hopelessness, dissatisfaction, and emotional pain.
As stress and frustration accumulated, alcohol became an escape, and his relationships with his wife, son, employees, and customers gradually suffered.
Through meditation and honestly reflecting on himself, he gradually discovered the selfishness, inferiority, superiority, resentment, and emotional wounds hidden deep inside his mind.
As he continued emptying those minds, his relationships improved, his leadership changed, his gratitude deepened, and he regained confidence in both life and business.
This meditation testimonial beautifully shows how inner change can transform relationships, business, leadership, gratitude, and the entire direction of one’s life.
💬 Meditation Testimonial: “Wanting Everyone to Live Well Together — Meditation Gave Me Confidence in Business Again”
By Chul P. | Self-Employed Business Owner
After graduating from high school, I began working as a kitchen assistant at a relative’s Japanese restaurant.
That opportunity became the beginning of a career that has now lasted nearly thirty years in the restaurant business.
Because I stayed dedicated and focused without chasing distractions, by the time I reached middle age I was operating a large high-end Japanese restaurant in downtown Seoul.
But just as the business was expanding successfully, the building owner suddenly asked us to vacate because of remodeling plans.
That event hit me very hard.
🌧️ I Became Full of Complaints and Drank Constantly
Compared to before, the new restaurant was much smaller, and in my eyes the location was terrible.
On top of that, the economy entered a downturn.
Nothing in life seemed to go according to my wishes anymore.
I became dissatisfied with everything.
One day, while completely drunk, I even jumped from a building because I said I wanted to die.
My entire body was covered with injuries afterward.
My wife suffered greatly because of me.
Even my son, who had just entered high school, had to endure my drunken outbursts.
At the time, my son’s homeroom teacher happened to be a regular customer at our restaurant.
Since we were around the same age, we often drank together.
One day, after listening endlessly to my complaints and self-pity, he finally dragged me — almost forcibly — to a local meditation center.
🌱 I Began Seeing the Reality of My Own Mind
Honestly, I did not want to go at all.
But after reluctantly registering, someone there explained the principles and methods of this meditation to me.
To be truthful, I felt the meditation fee itself was a waste of money.
I thought:
“I’ll just do whatever they say for one month and quit.”
They said that even someone who reflects on themselves three times a day is already better off.
So I figured:
“At worst, I lose nothing by trying.”
And with that attitude, I started practicing meditation.
For several days, I sincerely reflected on my life and discarded the memories and minds I had accumulated.
Then one moment, something suddenly became crystal clear inside me.
I realized:
“I’ve been trapped inside the world created by my own mind all this time.
That’s why life has been so painful.”
And another realization followed:
“I’ve only made life difficult for my family.”
The moment I saw how deeply self-centered and stubborn I had been, tears began pouring out uncontrollably.
🌿 I Even Judged Customers Based on Money
After crying for a long time, I felt an incredible sense of relief and clarity surrounding me.
I hated myself for constantly blaming others, justifying my mistakes, and tormenting my family through drunken behavior.
As I continued emptying my mind, I also began clearly seeing the inferiority complex hidden deep inside me.
I had always believed:
“I worked hard and built everything on my own without education or inherited wealth.”
But underneath that pride were actually two minds:
Superiority and inferiority.
When my business succeeded, I proudly showed off in front of friends who had grown up with better circumstances.
But once my business entered difficult times, I began resenting my parents for not leaving me financial support, and I became dissatisfied with the world itself.
So I continued discarding both my superiority and inferiority.
Then more memories surfaced.
Back in the old days, learning even a simple cooking skill meant enduring beatings and verbal abuse from senior chefs.
I remembered being beaten in kitchen corners by my seniors.
And later, when I myself became a senior chef, I also remembered harshly mistreating younger employees beneath me.
One by one, I discarded all of those memories too.
And then I saw something even more embarrassing.
I realized I had been unconsciously categorizing restaurant customers based on money.
“This customer is cheap.”
“That customer spends generously.”
All of those judgments had been created entirely inside my own mind.
As I discarded those accumulated “mind photographs” from the past, my daily habits slowly began changing too.
✨ I Learned to Think About How Everyone Could Live Well Together
Before, I drank alcohol only to complain about my miserable life.
Now, I drink comfortably and joyfully with friends and family, and it genuinely feels relaxing.
Sometimes my wife and I simply sit together with modest side dishes, sharing warm conversations over a drink.
I also stopped obsessing only over hiring talented chefs.
Instead, I began investing energy into training younger staff members.
In the past, harsh words and yelling were part of my daily life.
Now, I try to spend more energy encouraging and complimenting people instead.
I realized how shameful it was that I had become obsessed with making money while never once looking after the people around me.
And most importantly, I regained confidence in business.
I realized that I had finally become someone capable of seeing and leading the bigger picture.
Just as success never comes overnight, I also came to understand this truth:
“Even if money comes easily through luck, if a person lacks the capacity to manage it properly, life will eventually take it away without the slightest error.”
Wasn’t I the perfect example?
I became arrogant because I earned money, yet I lacked the maturity to handle it properly — and eventually lost it all.
Now, instead of living only for myself, I try living for others and serving every customer equally with sincerity.
Ironically, my income naturally began increasing again.
The employees who work with me, the customers who visit my restaurant, and my family — I now realize they are all precious parts of the same greater world.
And helping all of us live well together is the true reason I work hard.
For me, discovering this meditation has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.
There is a saying:
“Heaven helps those who help themselves.”
I truly came to understand that unless we change ourselves first, we cannot understand the true principles of life.
And I remain deeply grateful that this meditation completely changed the way I see the world.
🌟 Reflect at Santa Clara Meditation
Many people silently struggle with stress, anger, alcohol dependence, inferiority, emotional exhaustion, hopelessness, business pressure, and relationship conflict.
At Santa Clara Meditation, people learn how to reflect on themselves, let go of emotional burdens and painful thoughts, and discover peace, gratitude, healthier relationships, renewed confidence, and inner clarity through meditation.
If you are struggling with stress, anger, emotional suffering, or pressure from work and business, meditation may help you discover lasting inner change and a more peaceful way of living.
