📖 Introduction
Many dislikes, fears, prejudices, emotional reactions, and aversions may seem completely natural or permanent.
People often believe:
“That’s just my personality.”
“That’s simply my preference.”
“That’s how I’ve always been.”
But sometimes, those reactions are not truly part of who we are.
Instead, they may come from emotional memories, images, experiences, and unconscious conditioning stored deep inside the mind.
This meditation testimonial shares the story of Sung K., a college student who had hated squid ever since childhood.
Although he believed it was simply personal preference, meditation helped him discover the surprising emotional memory hidden behind that strong dislike.
As he reflected on his mind and let go of the image connected to squid, the feeling of disgust gradually disappeared completely.
This meditation testimonial beautifully shows how meditation and self-reflection can help people release prejudice, emotional conditioning, fear, aversion, and fixed ideas stored in the mind.
💬 Meditation Testimonial: “Why I Hated Squid”
By Sung K. | College Student
Ever since I was little, I absolutely hated squid.
I hated looking at it.
I hated the smell of it.
Whenever squid appeared in school lunches during elementary, middle, or high school, I simply refused to eat it.
Even if it was hidden inside fried rice or meat patties, I would carefully pick it out.
Honestly, it was inconvenient and annoying.
Whenever my friends teased me for being a picky eater, I would just respond:
“Everyone has foods they hate.
I just don’t like squid.”
I believed it was simply personal preference.
Discovering Where the Dislike Came From
Later, at my mother’s recommendation, I attended a meditation camp for university students.
One day during meditation, we reflected on things we disliked and tried letting go of those feelings.
Suddenly, squid came to mind.
And I asked myself:
“Why do I hate squid so much?”
I began looking back through memories stored in my mind since childhood.
Then suddenly, one particular scene surfaced.
It was from an old cartoon called Run, Toppo.
In the animation, mice were shown turning squid legs into something resembling mouse tails.
That image had imprinted itself deeply into my mind when I was young.
From then on, every time I saw squid, my mind automatically connected it with something disgusting.
Later, whenever I saw mice, I thought of squid.
Whenever I saw squid, I imagined mouse tails.
Then I realized:
“Ah… I hated squid because of a single image stored in my mind.”
🌱 Letting Go of the Image
Once I understood the cause, I wanted to let it go.
So during meditation, I repeatedly released that image from my mind.
And gradually, the feeling of disgust began disappearing.
It was honestly amazing.
After that, I no longer felt repulsed when I saw squid.
And when I actually tried eating it, I discovered it tasted good.
Even spicy seafood noodle soup — which I used to consider completely disgusting — became something I genuinely enjoyed.
✨ “I Learned That Any Prejudice Can Be Let Go”
As the feeling of dislike disappeared, eating became much easier and more comfortable.
But more importantly, I gained confidence that I could free myself from any prejudice:
- dislike toward foods,
- dislike toward certain people,
- and even fear or aversion toward animals.
Because now I knew there was a way to let those feelings go.
🌟 Reflect at Santa Clara Meditation
Many people silently struggle with prejudice, fear, emotional conditioning, anxiety, negative thoughts, aversions, and fixed ideas stored in the mind.
At Santa Clara Meditation, people learn how to reflect on themselves, let go of emotional burdens and conditioned thoughts, and discover greater freedom, peace, clarity, and inner happiness through meditation.
If you are struggling with emotional reactions, fear, stress, prejudice, or limiting thoughts, meditation may help you discover a healthier and freer perspective on life.
