📖 Introduction
Life’s pressures can often build up silently until we find ourselves overwhelmed. For some, it manifests as sudden depression and an inability to sleep after painful emotional events. For others, the relentless drive for success, combined with the heavy demands of work and parenting, leaves them completely exhausted—wondering why they aren’t happy despite having everything they wanted.
In this post, two individuals share their honest journeys of navigating these dark times. Through the practice of mind subtraction, they discovered how to discard the false minds causing their suffering and began to find true relief.
Read their stories to see how letting go can restore your peace. You can learn more about starting your own journey at our Free Meditation Introduction.
💬 Story 1: 🌧️ “The Frustration, Depression, and Agony Have Subsided”
By Choi Song-ah / Age 31 / Level 1
The first time I learned about this meditation was last summer when I heard about it from a close older female colleague at work. At that time, out of simple curiosity and interest, I thought it would be nice to try it if I had the chance. Then, from the end of last year through January and February of this year, due to emotionally exhausting and painful events, I couldn’t sleep well and was filled with depression and distress. I felt like I was going to ruin my personality, mind, and body (despite being acknowledged by myself and others as having a bright and active personality), so I wanted to escape this frustration and depression. In the midst of that, I remembered this meditation, and I immediately entered the Level 1 practice of this meditation.
At first, I only thought of it as an escape from reality, and I came in with somewhat high expectations that I would feel truly relieved and better, but it was very difficult to adapt initially. When listening to the lectures, it was fun and easy to understand, and Ah! I made a resolution to work really hard and become the universe mind. But the act of subtracting the mind did not come easily at all, and during the process of looking back at my mind, complexity and distress would sometimes well up again.
Whenever that happened, the assistant guides occasionally showed interest, counseled me, and guided my personal meditation, for which I was so grateful. My mind would fluctuate several times a day, feeling like it was going well and then not going well. If I went by my feelings and will alone, I would want to take a leave of absence and just stay here to continue this meditation, but thinking about returning to my daily life tomorrow leaves me with some anxiety and regret.
“Still, compared to when I first entered here, the frustration, depression, and agony have subsided a lot, and since I also learned that they are all false, I think I shouldn’t let them sway me and damage my body and mind anymore. Although my mind isn’t completely cleared, forgotten, or all the frustrating things entirely wiped away exactly as I had initially expected… I feel quite a bit lighter.”
#EscapingDepression #AcquaintanceRecommendation #Lighthearted #Agony
💬 Story 2: 🌻 “The Reason I Wasn’t Happy Even When I Had What I Wanted”
By YH LEE
The reason I started meditating was that while working, trying to achieve the honor right in front of me, the physical overload caused by housework, parenting, and ambition for promotion led to mental suffering. I became immensely tense even in ordinary situations, which led to insomnia, making it hard to eat or even go to the bathroom. When basic daily life became nearly impossible, I was drawn to the stories of this meditation and started practicing.
After just 2 weeks, I started to fall asleep and became able to eat and go to the bathroom. Above all, the warmth of the people at the meditation center made me feel humanity, so I continued going to the job I had planned to quit.
“I realized that the reason I never thought my life—which had always achieved what I wanted—was happy, was because I was trying to achieve it in the false world that is the human mind.”
However, as my body got a bit better, my meditation practice started to slack off. In the middle of it, a lot of minds came up and I was thinking of quitting, but then I sent my eldest child to the university student camp for this meditation. Seeing how much they changed, I made a renewed resolution to diligently go through the levels quickly.
#WorkStress #ParentingStress
🌱 NEXT STEPS: Clear Your Mind Today
Whether you are struggling with depression, overwhelming stress, or the feeling that something is missing despite your achievements, true relief begins when you let go of the burden. Discard the heavy thoughts and find your peace.
👉 Book a Free Introductory Session at Santa Clara Meditation
